Natural disasters happen everywhere in the world. Many cause property damage and loss of life. But researchers say theseverity of their effects can be reduced if people take steps to prepare.
A new exhibit teaches what governments and individuals can do to lessen theeffects. The show is taking place at the National Building Museum here inWashington, D.C.
Natural disasters take place often, and sometimes unexpectedly, across theUnited States. But there is technology that can save property and lives.
Chrysanthe Broikos organized the exhibit at the National Building Museum. She says large buildings and other structures can survive strong earthquakesif they are built with some level of flexibility. In other words, they need to beable to bend and move as the earth shakes.
“We need to let buildings move and we can actually understand where theymight fail, and then go in and design buildings with that in mind.”
One building design is called a “special moment frame.” It enables movementat points where large load-bearing supports join each other. Rubber-basedfoundation blocks let buildings move, while huge shock absorbers help to limitthe shaking.
The museum exhibit has a model of a wind wall built at the InternationalHurricane Research Center in Florida. The model shows how some roofs ortops of buildings are more likely to be destroyed than others because of thestrong winds of hurricanes and tornadoes. Chrysanthe Broikos says testsshow that a moderately angled roof is best able to withstand wind storms.
“This hipped roof shape actually withstands better than,actually both, a flat roof or a gable roof.”
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Two tornadoes move toward Pilger, Nebraska June 16, 2014. |
In areas with powerful winds, researchers have stronglyurged the creation of at least one ‘safe room.’ This is aplace where building occupants can spend the mostdangerous part of the storm.
Another concern is how to deal with storm surges andflooding. Some coastal communities in the U.S. havemade artificial reefs from oyster shells instead of rocks. The builders useshells collected from restaurants to create the barriers.
“It turns out that oyster reefs actually help to attenuate wave action. They alsohelp with soil erosion.”
Chrysanthe Broikos also suggests setting aside land along the coast for parksinstead of housing. She says this is more natural and keeps valuable propertyaway from danger.
As for forest fires, researchers now suggest clearing an area about 60 meterswide around a single-family house.
“What that means is trying to keep that area free of material that easilycombusts.”
Some natural disasters cannot be prevented. But researchers say planningand timely investment can provide the same kind of protection as puttingsunblock on your skin before spending the day outside the house.
I’m Caty Weaver.
