Hey, the ones here improve every time there's an earthquake now. It's just that retrofitting only solves so many ills, since old buildings are grandfathered in.
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The radio was doing an interview with a structural engineer who has been working in the city inspecting buildings since the quake. He was saying that the majority of the severly damaged buildings were pre-1930s.
I'll bet. Hey, San Francisco buildings built after that point are safer, too; the state was handling earthquake codes by then.
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Our engineers and law makers learned a lot that day and with knowledge that we are going to have 7-8's hitting most of our major cities (including the Capital, Wellington) given enough time, the decision was made to build to survive. The first building codes were introduced in 1932, and the first Building Act was in 1935.
Yeah, building codes are a Good Thing. It's what makes the casualty differences so major between an earthquake in the Greater Los Angeles Area and an earthquake in rural China.
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Since then they have been revised several times based on what has been further learned from EQs in both NZ and overseas (including Kobe and Mexico City), with the latest update in 2004 when all non-residential buildings and multi-story residential buildings that were not up to the current regulations had to be strengthened to at least withstand a moderate Earthquake (one about a third of the size that a new building will withstand.) While this was to be a 10 year project with buildings to be compliant by 2014, many of the ones in Christchurch had been strengthened leading to their survival.
Do you know how that was going to be financed? I know one of the reasons a lot of things here in the US don't get retrofitted is that it can cost a lot of money to bring a building up to the new code. Also people wanting the state to keep its nose out of their property rights.
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While the standards do mean that the exact type of quake varies depending on building type, ground type, and location in the country, I believe the current standard means that a building in NZ should survive a direct hit by an 8.0 earthquake long enough to evacuate it safetly, which is the goal, keep the building standing long enough for the people in it to get out alive.
Not all 8.0 earthquakes last long enough to evacuate a building. I mean, earthquakes really only shake for a minute or so tops most of the time. If it will stand that long after the shaking stops, so much the better. It is true, though, that stronger earthquakes tend to last longer, so I guess length would have to enter into it, too. Though I'll note that my mom's house has similar construction to a lot of the houses destroyed during the Loma Prieta quake in '89, and the most damage she's ever suffered was a chimney which had to be taken down after it got cracked in the Sierra Madre quake. ('91?) My mom's on bedrock, not on the fill of the Marina District of San Francisco, you see.
« Last Edit: Sept 5, 2010, 11:12pm by gillianren »
Yes. The Daily Mail needs to hire a copy editor, and many of the people in the comments section are idiots. However, as for the earthquake, I am definitely in the "could be much worse" category. I do like the bishop in there who thanks God for building codes.
Joined: May 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 4,620 Location: Lost Deimos Moonbase
Re: 7.0 earthquake hits New Zealand « Reply #19 on Sept 7, 2010, 5:18pm »
Well unfortunately for Christchurch it isn't over yet, the ground is still shaking and the damage continues.
This moring they had the most damaging of the 100 after shocks, a 5.1 which was very close to the city and quite shallow. Normally any city in NZ would have ridden that sort of Quake without blinking, but with the stuctures weakened from the initial quake and the numerous aftershocks, and the residents' nerves frayed, it really was a serious event.
Even before this more roads and buildings have been damaged, or had existing damage made worse, by the aftershocks, and as a result a lot of buildings that they initially believed could have been saved, are now beyond repair. The landscape of the city will be forever changed with not just dozens, but hundreds of heritage buildings now so dangerous that they can only be demolished.
Finacially they are already talking NZ$2 Billion in just the claims for Residential properties, with 21,000 claims already having been made and expectations that this will rise to at least 100,000 (which doesn't include businesses), and many people are saying that they aren't planning to rebuild, that they are just leaving.
Another issue is pets. Many cats have run from their homes and are now stray or missing, and those that haven't are now crowding local pet shelters while their owner's try and find new homes for themselves and their pets.
We have been lucky though. With the lack of clean water and with sewage systems compromised, there was a huge potential for disease, and this for the time being at least has been held in check.
Over all, the true extent of this disaster is just being to be realised now and as more aftershocks are predicted, the situation could really just continue to get worse. Really the only ones to be getting anything out of all of this are the repair and demolision crews, and the Geologists at Canterbury University who never believed that they would be able to get such good first hand data on a major quake.
Predictions are that it will be at least 6 months to a Year before rebuilding is well underway and that there is just so much damage that it could be years before the city fully recovers.
« Last Edit: Sept 7, 2010, 5:25pm by PhantomWolf »
It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah
"On two occasions, I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
Joined: May 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 4,620 Location: Lost Deimos Moonbase
Re: 7.0 earthquake hits New Zealand « Reply #20 on Sept 8, 2010, 3:24am »
Another update....
With the aftershocks still coming they have extended the state of emergency for another week. The damage is now estimated at over NZ$4 Billion.
If anyone is interested there is an elapsed time animation of the quake and aftershocks (now over 300 recorded) found at http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/
Keep in mind that anything over 3.5 is likely to be felt, while anything over 5.0 is able to cause damage to the already weakened buildings.
It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah
"On two occasions, I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
Joined: Jun 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 562 Location: Los Angeles
Re: 7.0 earthquake hits New Zealand « Reply #21 on Sept 8, 2010, 3:44pm »
Cats have an amazing ability to sense earthquakes before they happen and to survive them.
More frequent and more severe quakes as we near the end of TEOTWAWKI were prophesied by Jesus. I guess we're due for the Big One in California in the not too distant future. I reckon we should prepare for disaster wherever we live. Anyone who has experienced a major quake can tell you how absolutely devastating they are--don't count on government to take care of you--esp. in the first few days after the quake. May the earth stop moving in NZ.
Cats have an amazing ability to sense earthquakes before they happen and to survive them.
Actually, there's no real scientific evidence of that, just anecdotal.
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More frequent and more severe quakes as we near the end of TEOTWAWKI were prophesied by Jesus. I guess we're due for the Big One in California in the not too distant future. I reckon we should prepare for disaster wherever we live. Anyone who has experienced a major quake can tell you how absolutely devastating they are--don't count on government to take care of you--esp. in the first few days after the quake. May the earth stop moving in NZ.
Ah, but earthquakes are not more frequent or severe. Reporting on them is better, but we're still about average according to all measures. Now, I've been through a major earthquake or three--not far off in size from that one, in fact, and at least one or two bigger. It's going to be very difficult for some people for a long time, and for a lot of people for some time. However, the government does help those who need it, as real research--not just trusting fear-mongering websites--will tell you, and goodness knows the people of New Zealand have a better governmental backup than the poor people of Haiti did.
As for what Jesus did or didn't say, well, you never listen to anyone but yourself on that.
"My feet they finally took root in the Earth, but I got me a nice little place in the stars, and I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car..."
Joined: May 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 3,122 Location: Space City, Texas
Re: 7.0 earthquake hits New Zealand « Reply #24 on Sept 8, 2010, 6:55pm »
The strongest earthquake to hit the US in recorded history was the New Madrid quakes in Dec 1811- Feb 1812. Casualties and property damage were limited by the sparse population in the region. But soil liquefaction occurred, waterfalls formed on the Mississippi and waves that traveled up the river made it appear to be flowing backwards (think tsunami in a river.) At least one new lake was formed as a result.
There has not been anything as severe in the past two hundred years. Only FUD merchants will claim that earthquakes are getting worse. People that actually know about earthquakes know better.
More frequent and more severe quakes as we near the end of TEOTWAWKI were prophesied by Jesus.
We have a 7.0 or bigger about once every two years, the only difference is that this one hit a major population centre whereas those in the past (since 1931) haven't.
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I reckon we should prepare for disaster wherever we live.
Funny thing, our Civil Defence organization agrees with you.
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Anyone who has experienced a major quake can tell you how absolutely devastating they are--don't count on government to take care of you--esp. in the first few days after the quake.
No Government can react immediately, though ours has reacted amazingly fast with the Prime Minister and many others (including the army and navy reservists) rushing down to see where they can help. In the case of a disaster we have a Civil Defence organisation that take control of the area and organises help, and they have shown themselves very effective in this case. Already the city water supply has been tested and annouced safe to use, power has been restored to 95% of homes, and claims for assistance to rebuild and repair are flooding in and being processed. The Government is even talking about removing the need to get normal building consent to repair/rebuild, until after the job is done.
Civil Defence makes it quite clear that in the case of a disaster it could take up to three days to get to people, so disaster kits should have ar least 3 days of water and food for both yourself, your family, and your animals. While it is going to take a while to get Christchurch back to normal, the process is well and truely on its way with Government assistance well and truely right there.
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May the earth stop moving in NZ.
Not going to happen, we aren't called the Shakey Isles for nothing.
« Last Edit: Sept 8, 2010, 8:51pm by PhantomWolf »
It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah
"On two occasions, I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
Joined: Aug 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 3,492 Location: Olympia
Re: 7.0 earthquake hits New Zealand « Reply #26 on Sept 8, 2010, 10:12pm »
Had my dad not gone on Easter leave in 1964 to see his mother's (third?) wedding, he would have experienced a 9.4! (As I previously mentioned either here or on BAUT.) My dad died in 1983, and I still haven't had even a chance at experiencing an earthquake that large.
It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah
"On two occasions, I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
Joined: May 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 4,620 Location: Lost Deimos Moonbase
Re: 7.0 earthquake hits New Zealand « Reply #28 on Feb 22, 2011, 12:47am »
There has been another major quake in Christchurch. It was a 6.3 but only 10km from the city centre and 5km deep.
The central city is a mess with many collapsed buildings. There has been one confirmed fatality, however there have been unconfirmed reports of many more. Hundreds of people have been trapped in semi-collapsed buildings. The spire on the historical and landmark Carthedral fell doing major damage to the building. Most people are saying it looks like a war-zone. There have been many after-shocks, including a 5.5 or 5.7 one.
It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah
"On two occasions, I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah
"On two occasions, I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
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