Natural
Disasters and Schools
By Shafqat Ullah
Supervising Structural Engineer
Division of the State Architect
Los Angeles Regional Office
Los Angeles, CA
The devastating earthquake
in Northern Pakistan took thousands of lives and
left thousands more injured and homeless. Schools
took the heavy brunt of this calamity. Thousands
of young lives were lost because schools were
not designed and constructed to withstand the
forces generated by the earthquake.
It is the utmost duty and responsibility of the
people and government of Pakistan to build safe
schools and protect the future generation, our
children. This can be accomplished if we look
around and see how other nations have enacted
legislations and have programs in place that provide
for the construction of safe public schools.
The State of California passed a legislation after
the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, known as the Field
Act after the assemblyman Charles Field. The earthquake
that occurred on March 10,1933 and measured 6.3
on the Richter scale left 120 people dead including
5 children who died from the collapse of a school
gymnasium . If the earthquake had struck a few
hours earlier when the school was in session the
loss of life would have been appalling. Most of
the school buildings that collapsed were built
of un-reinforced masonry and not designed to resist
earthquake forces. Part of the failure was also
due to shoddy workmanship. As a result of the
structural failure of the schools, earthquake
resistant design and construction was mandated
for public schools K-12 and community colleges.
On April 10,1933 Field Act was passed which authorized
the Division of the State Architect to review
and approve plans and specifications for all public
schools and provide supervision of the construction
work.
The Field Act ensures that public schools are
designed and constructed to sustain minor damage
without collapse in a major earthquake event.
Since the enactment of this law no school building
has suffered collapse in any of the numerous earthquakes
up and down the State of California. The enforcement
in the form of thorough review of plans and specifications
prepared by licensed architects and structural
engineers in California coupled with the inspection
and quality control of construction has made school
buildings some of the safest structures in California.
It is about time that the federal and provincial
governments in Pakistan pass strict legislations
and promulgate building codes to protect life
and property, and create programs to build safe
school buildings.
May Allah help and guide us. Allah tells us in
Holy Quran: “If Allah helps you, none can
overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there,
after that, that can help you? In Allah, then,
Let believers put their trust” - Surah Al_Imran.
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