But the construction of the buildings there is what proved to be so fatal, as most unreinforced masonry crumbled under the strength of the quake, causing the deaths of more than 14,000 people. And experts say that in Seattle, a bigger quake than today's could wreak real havoc. Most of the buildings in Seattle and its environs are not earthquake proof. Old homes are often made of brick, said Tom Yellin, a USGS seismologist at the University of Washington in Seattle. In addition, older establishments' buildings were not attached to their foundations, making them more susceptible to earthquake damage.
Experts say buildings can be made to survive earthquakes intact.
And tiny ceramic strips that change shape when electricity is passed through them to help buildings flex. And at Notre Dame University, they've developed sensors to both detect the earthquake force and the movement of the building. Dampers, which act like shock absorbers, kick in and let the building ride out the quake. The standard dampers that are installed in structures do not have the ability to adjust according to the demands on the structure. Engineers insist these statistics could be improved with tougher building codes.