California Quake Could Be Worse Than Katrina; Experts Question Preparedness

Los Angeles police officers prepare to leave Parker Center, the downtown Los Angeles Police Department headquarters, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005. Parker Center has not been retrofitted to bring it up to current earthquake standards and is considered at risk when the area is hit by a sizeable quake. The focus on mitigating earthquake damage has shrunk since the Bush administration made the Federal Emergency Management Agency part of the Department of Homeland Security two years ago, officials said. That'sled to slowed-down progress in the one area that can yield the most benefit when the ground shakes: designing and constructing buildings and structures to withstand quakes.

Parker Center, the Los Angeles police headquarters building, is shown Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005, in Los Angeles. Parker Center has not been retrofitted to bring it up to current earthquake standards and is considered at risk when the area is hit by a sizeable quake. The focus on mitigating earthquake damage has shrunk since the Bush administration made the Federal Emergency Management Agency part of the Department of Homeland Security two years ago, officials said. That's led to slowed-down progress inthe one area that can yield the most benefit when the ground shakes: designing and constructing buildings and structures to withstand quakes.