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| - The 2017 Pawnee earthquake was a magnitude 7.8 interplate earthquake that occurred at 4:17:33 am PST (12:17 UTC) on January 11, 2017, with the epicenter occurring on the Banning–Coachella Valley segment of the San Andreas fault just north of Pawnee, Inland Empire. Lasting approximately 2 minutes and 4 seconds, it was the third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Sierra since modern record-keeping began in 1812. It was felt as far as the unaffected cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Salsipuedes. The earthquake caused widespread damage throughout Southwestern Sierra, killing at least 5,348 people (as of January 17), and triggering over 50 large fires and numerous landslides. A non-destructive tsunami also occurred, with noticeable waves traveling as far as Hawaii and Alaska. Alongside i
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| abstract
| - The 2017 Pawnee earthquake was a magnitude 7.8 interplate earthquake that occurred at 4:17:33 am PST (12:17 UTC) on January 11, 2017, with the epicenter occurring on the Banning–Coachella Valley segment of the San Andreas fault just north of Pawnee, Inland Empire. Lasting approximately 2 minutes and 4 seconds, it was the third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Sierra since modern record-keeping began in 1812. It was felt as far as the unaffected cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Salsipuedes. The earthquake caused widespread damage throughout Southwestern Sierra, killing at least 5,348 people (as of January 17), and triggering over 50 large fires and numerous landslides. A non-destructive tsunami also occurred, with noticeable waves traveling as far as Hawaii and Alaska. Alongside initial structural damage caused by the earthquake itself, the subsequent fires, flooding, and landslides that occurred following the event resulted in over $150 billion in property damages, and millions more in medical and insurance costs related directly to the earthquake. It is the single deadliest and costliest natural disaster in Sierran history. Sierran Prime Minister Daniel McComb described the aftermath as, " the darkest and most painful hour in [Sierran] history since the Civil War." Many cities in the Inland Empire including San Bernardino and Riverside were severely affected, and there was widespread structural damages in large parts of Porciúncula and the greater vicinity. Liquefaction occurred throughout the Greater Porciúncula Area; fires erupted from ruptured gas lines and downed electrical lines; significant flooding occurred in the High Desert due to breaches from the Porciúncula and Colorado River Aqueduct systems. The National Emergency and Risk Management Agency (NERMA) officially reported an initial confirmation of 5,270 deaths, over 50,000 injuries, and 783 people missing across eight provinces in connection to the earthquake and related incidents. It has since been updated to 5,348 deaths, 57,836 injuries, and 777 people missing as of January 17, 2017. Early reports on the extent of structural collapses, damages, and destruction caused by the earthquake were conducted with estimates of roughly 2.5 million buildings being significantly affected by the disaster, and over 600,000 vehicles damaged or destroyed in the disaster. Local geologists and scientists had anticipated a large, destructive earthquake occurring in Sierra for several years prior to the Pawnee earthquake. The general public were acutely aware of its potential manifestation as "The Big One", an earthquake which would have a level of magnitude greater than 7.0. Scientists predicted that an earthquake originating from the San Andreas Fault, particularly its southern section, was highly likely within the 21st century. The section was dormant as it had not seen any substantial activity or notable earthquakes since 1857 when one measuring 7.9 Mw hit Southern Sierra. Prior to the January 11 earthquake, Southern Sierra was overdue for an earthquake at the scale of the actual earthquake within 50 years of the scientists' initial projections. Scenarios of much more extreme magnitudes exceeding 8.0 were also feared, with the frequency of such an earthquake occurring once every 2,500 years in Sierra. Various measures were made by the government and businesses in earthquake preparation including retrofitting and updating old buildings, creating a national earthquake insurance plan, and more to minimize the adverse effects of an earthquake. In retrospect, NERMA Chair Tyler Woodson stated, "If we had not done more than we could, this earthquake would have cost more lives and money, and been exponentially worse." After the earthquake, Parliament passed stricter regulations on building codes and fire safety, and increased funding in research on earthquakes and geological surveys in what the media described as "mobilizing from the wake-up call". First responders, law enforcement, government agencies, humanitarian relief organizations, and social media played a crucial and critical role in the immediate relief and recovery efforts. Additionally, the National Guard was deployed throughout Southland to render assistance to displaced families including food, water, and clothing, and to combat against looting and other potential crimes at high-risk areas. The economic effects of the earthquake were profound and immediate, with stock shares in the Porciúncula Stock Exchange dipping by 439 points. On January 12, the McComb Ministry requested over $175 billion for repairs and reconstruction across the region, although when economic losses caused by disruption of local industries are accounted for, damages exceed $220 billion. The Royal Monetary Authority of Sierra offered $210 billion to the local banking system in order to preserve pre-disaster levels of market stability. Parliament passed a comprehensive recovery and disaster relief bill on January 30, providing over $200 billion, which included appropriations for infrastructural updates. Economists have estimated that it may take 10-25 years before the Sierran economy can fully recover to pre-earthquake levels.
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