Dear Editor:
The recent earthquakes in Mexico, and subsequent rescue efforts among the rubble of fallen structures, highlight the lack of preparedness in our region.
The urgent need to seismically upgrade our schools is of critical importance – several schools in Mexico City were completely destroyed, killing students and staff while they went about their daily routine, unaware of the danger.
In Burnaby, there are several schools highlighted in reports as being in a state of “extreme danger” of collapse in the event of a high magnitude earthquake.
The provincial government has delayed this for years due to financial constraints. I agree, the cost to seismically upgrade these schools is very high, but the price we will pay in the event of an earthquake is immeasurably higher.
Many of these schools have “blocks” or parts of the structure that are most critically in danger when the shaking starts (i.e. gymnasium extensions, second storeys of older wings). I implore the provincial government to zoom in and identify those parts of each school that are most likely to collapse and kill, and start work on those immediately without waiting for the business case to retrofit the entirety of each school.
Cities such as Burnaby, which have surpluses in the billions of dollars, should fund this work now in advance of completed business cases and delays. I call on the mayor and city council of Burnaby to commit to using part of this surplus to fix this problem.
The clock is ticking, and we are gambling with our children’s lives.
Kristoffer Palma, by email
