Can some of the construction gurus weigh in on this pressing topic? Are there things to look for in advance in terms of proper reinforcement, support etc. How to spot potential "stress" or "weak" areas in the structure...
Listen, man, nothing here can withstand an earthquake. Nothing. Especially not a 7.3. Who cares about rebar if the ground moves? Remember liquefaction. Multistory houses will fall because of gravity and the concrete will pulverize. Rebar will keep the pillars in place but what about the roof?
The real problem is there are no uniform building codes for such an event. The buildings now are Miami hurricane engineered(all concrete and cinder block). Not San Francisco or Tokyo engineered.
And dont forget one more important factor, who is building the house? If you use the cheapeast labor, the cheapest materials and the cheapest decorator what would you expect?
Listen, man, nothing here can withstand an earthquake. Nothing.
Just being logical, if your house is more than 7 years old then its already withstood a couple quakes.
Yesterdays, and the one from 2003.
DR houses seem to be built solidly although not us much as buildings in poland with foundations about 2 meters deep (we have basements). however, i do not think that an individual in DR can use technologies that will make his house earthquake proof - due to expense and lack of availability. when tremor is very strong (say, 8.0 or more) you can only pray.
In 2003 my birthday was ruined by the quake...however. our 40 year old house and its newer additions were fine. Just a minor crack in one wall on an addition.
In fact none of the homes here inthe Jardines were affected.
That said, for goodness sake remember that a 7 is 10 times stronger than a 6...TEN times.
We just do not know.
One important note: While I have preached to my wife the need to get out of bed and lay on the ground NEXT to the bed (the "triangle of life") She did NOT do that. Whether out of fear or whatever, and was therefore exposing herself to a collapsing roof scenario should it have happened.
First rule of earthquakes is to get down next to a chair, table, anything strong...
I even have water bottles on the floor, next to the bed. JIC!!
I think that a lot of awareness will come out of this and persons will take greater pains with their constructions...some won't...
However, as someone pointed out, if a 8.0 or a 7.5 hits this part, all you can do is pray.
HB
Well I think our was 6.5 but then the center was in the mountains 50k from where Sosua/Cabarete. I am no specialist, but this one in Haiti was very shallow also... I can just imagine. AND ours were 1 AM in the morning... One big school in Puerto Plata for instance collapsed... but no one was there. We were very lucky. Well then the Nagua 8.0 one... but I doubt anyone of us here in this forum were here then... 160 000 died
Built solidly?!? Well I guess it is relative. My friend, an experienced builder, was shocked when he saw the building process here (especially concerning the concrete). And these are now shiny new white houses and apartment buildings that sells for big dollars
"Tsunami associated with the quake killed 1600-1800 people, for a total of about 2550 fatalities.Well I think our was 6.5 but then the center was in the mountains 50k from where Sosua/Cabarete. I am no specialist, but this one in Haiti was very shallow also... I can just imagine. AND ours were 1 AM in the morning... One big school in Puerto Plata for instance collapsed... but no one was there. We were very lucky. Well then the Nagua 8.0 one... but I doubt anyone of us here in this forum were here then... 160 000 died