They can make their building stronger. Building officials advise homeowners living in liquefaction or landslide zones to hire an engineer to analyze the soil beneath the house. Concrete or chemical injections also can be pumped into the ground, creating a sandstone-like substance that helps to fill in any uneven gaps. Zan Turner, earthquake preparedness specialist for San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection, can punch any address into her computer and instantly determine whether it's on solid ground. Even if a house is only a block or two away from a landslide or liquefaction zone, it's safe as long as a nearby structure sitting on shaky ground doesn't collapse on top of it, she says.
People have no idea what the level of hazard is.
If they're knowledgeable, they can at least discuss it. With the click of a mouse, Turner says, homeowners can view the map. It matches earlier city maps identifying hazard zones and even includes a few new areas. In addition to the Marina district, liquefaction areas in San Francisco include Ocean Beach, North Beach and South of Market. Twin Peaks is a major landslide area.