Yellow Fever
September 13th, 2008, 07:43 AM
Vancouver Sun database shows many schools awaiting seismic repairs
Chantal Eustace, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, September 12, 2008
Of the nearly 300 schools in B.C. considered to be at highest risk in the event of an earthquake, only 14 have had repairs completed.
At 18 high-risk structures, upgrades are underway, and the rest of the 300 schools are waiting for their turns.
That and more information about the safety of schools can be found in a new Vancouver Sun database compiled using B.C. education ministry statistics.
Trafalgar elementary is one of the Vancouver schools undergoing seismic upgrades.
Available online at at www.vancouversun.com, it allows users to view and sort information by school name, district, type of school and status.
For instance, according to the site, while more than 250 high-priority schools are awaiting repair, seismic work at one school deemed to be a low priority, Senator Reid elementary in Surrey, has been completed.
Education Minister Shirley Bond was not available for an interview Friday but sent an e-mail commenting on progress.
"To date, a total of 74 school seismic projects are either complete, under construction or ready to proceed to construction," Bond said. "The safety of students, teachers and school staff is a top priority for our government."
But progress is too slow, said Dr. Tracy Monk, who has two children attending two of the schools that are considered most seismically unsafe.
Both schools are awaiting repairs.
Tracy, a family physician, is also a founder of the parent-led advocacy group Families for School Seismic Safety.
She said the recent earthquake in China points to how dangerous unsafe schools can be.
"The Chinese earthquake demonstrated that nobody can live with it when the buildings fail, and the school buildings failed disproportionately, and the children died," Tracy said. "There's no doubt we need to do better."
But before a school is repaired, there are many factors to consider, said an engineer working with the province.
Schools need to be able to continue to operate while being renovated, said Doug Hibbins, adding that each school is different and needs to be evaluated separately.
Factors such as the age of a building, height and foundation determine what needs to be done.
"Some buildings are easier to upgrade," Hibbins said. "The structure needs to stay standing so that we can do everything possible to avoid any injury or loss of life."
Bond said the province has spent close to $400 million on seismic upgrades since 2001. The province committed to a 15-year, $1.5 billion school seismic upgrade program in 2005.
The next big earthquake could hit any time, said Natural Resources Canada seismologist Honn Kao.
"The key issue here is that we still have not developed any reliable way to predict the occurrence of earthquakes," he said. "We should keep this in mind constantly."
For now, he said, being prepared is the best defence.
Chantal Eustace, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, September 12, 2008
Of the nearly 300 schools in B.C. considered to be at highest risk in the event of an earthquake, only 14 have had repairs completed.
At 18 high-risk structures, upgrades are underway, and the rest of the 300 schools are waiting for their turns.
That and more information about the safety of schools can be found in a new Vancouver Sun database compiled using B.C. education ministry statistics.
Trafalgar elementary is one of the Vancouver schools undergoing seismic upgrades.
Available online at at www.vancouversun.com, it allows users to view and sort information by school name, district, type of school and status.
For instance, according to the site, while more than 250 high-priority schools are awaiting repair, seismic work at one school deemed to be a low priority, Senator Reid elementary in Surrey, has been completed.
Education Minister Shirley Bond was not available for an interview Friday but sent an e-mail commenting on progress.
"To date, a total of 74 school seismic projects are either complete, under construction or ready to proceed to construction," Bond said. "The safety of students, teachers and school staff is a top priority for our government."
But progress is too slow, said Dr. Tracy Monk, who has two children attending two of the schools that are considered most seismically unsafe.
Both schools are awaiting repairs.
Tracy, a family physician, is also a founder of the parent-led advocacy group Families for School Seismic Safety.
She said the recent earthquake in China points to how dangerous unsafe schools can be.
"The Chinese earthquake demonstrated that nobody can live with it when the buildings fail, and the school buildings failed disproportionately, and the children died," Tracy said. "There's no doubt we need to do better."
But before a school is repaired, there are many factors to consider, said an engineer working with the province.
Schools need to be able to continue to operate while being renovated, said Doug Hibbins, adding that each school is different and needs to be evaluated separately.
Factors such as the age of a building, height and foundation determine what needs to be done.
"Some buildings are easier to upgrade," Hibbins said. "The structure needs to stay standing so that we can do everything possible to avoid any injury or loss of life."
Bond said the province has spent close to $400 million on seismic upgrades since 2001. The province committed to a 15-year, $1.5 billion school seismic upgrade program in 2005.
The next big earthquake could hit any time, said Natural Resources Canada seismologist Honn Kao.
"The key issue here is that we still have not developed any reliable way to predict the occurrence of earthquakes," he said. "We should keep this in mind constantly."
For now, he said, being prepared is the best defence.