Scientists: Nearly Half Of Americans Live In Quake-Prone Zones
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Scientists say more than 143 million Americans in the Lower 48 states now live in earthquake-prone areas.
That's because more people are living in the quake-prone West Coast and some quake zones were recently expanded.
The research doesn't include Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. But scientists estimated nearly half of Americans — or about 150 million people — live in a quake zone.
About 28 million people face the highest threat, mostly along the West Coast.
The research was presented Wednesday at an earthquake meeting in Pasadena. It was led by the U.S. Geological Survey, which used the latest quake maps and population data.
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