A devastating flood in 2006 tested the El Paso region’s ability to deal with a natural disaster. Six years later, a relatively minor (2.5 magnitude) earthquake rattled the area, fortunately causing no injuries or damage, but still raising questions about what might have been. Until now, the best any city or agency could do would be to assess the results of such an event and then act, using a responsive approach. Advances in computer modeling, however, now make a proactive plan more possible, potentially giving planners the head start they need to minimize the public-safety and economic consequences of a disaster. | Read the Article