In this paper we investigate the use causal inferencing to quantify the benefits of seismic risk mitigation strategies during real earthquakes. Specifically, we devise a framework to quantify realized and unrealized befits of cripple retrofit during hte 2014 South Napa earthquake. We find that the cost saved (from inevitable damage) due to the retrofits was on the order of $3.4 million, and this value would have been approximately $14.5 million had the entire inventory of buildings been retrofitted!
This work was the result of collaboration between USC and UCLA, with UCLA leading the charge through Prof. Henry Burton, Sebastian Galicia Madera, and Chenhao Wu. Prof Nweke and Student Rashid Shams made up the USC team.