New Building Technologies Can Reduce Quake Impacts

"The greatest tragedy of the December 22 earthquake in California was the deaths of two women who tried to flee a century-old building as the shaking began. For most people, the 6.5 magnitude event was an expensive nuisance requiring minor repairs to buildings. But three days later Iran was struck by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake that turned the entire city of Bam into a moonscape, killing at least 41,000. Much of the difference in outcomes lies in the technology used for building construction."

This is an interesting read on how composite materials, particularly in walls and roofs, can reduce the impact that earthquakes have and the damage they can potentially cause.

http://www.fas.org/main/content.jsp?formAction=297&contentId=60