Inadequate Earthquake Risk Data Endangers Washington State Schools

Washington public schools face significant risk from earthquakes, with inadequate data on seismic safety, as over 378,000 students are in buildings lacking evaluations. Seismic upgrades performed by various districts often remain unrecorded, leading to potential misrepresentations in safety assessments. No state law currently mandates seismic evaluations, highlighting gaps in accountability and safety for students.

Earthquake risk data for public schools in Washington State is significantly inadequate and largely inaccessible. A notable instance is Stadium High School, which underwent seismic improvements in the mid-2000s, yet the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction inaccurately lists it as lacking retrofits. This gap in seismic risk data is alarming, especially considering over 378,000 students attend schools built before modern seismic codes without evaluations or retrofits. Notably, approximately 167,000 students are in schools categorized as facing ‘high’ or ‘very high’ seismic risks. Despite the intent to assess vulnerabilities for better emergency planning and improvements, significant discrepancies persist in how seismic data is compiled and shared between different school districts and state agencies. For comparison, other states such as California, Oregon, and Utah have publicly documented their school seismic inventories for over a decade, while Washington’s approach has been markedly slower, with Governor Jay Inslee suggesting the process may stretch over decades. Scott Black, from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), acknowledged the gradual pace of funding and information acquisition. Compounding this issue is the fact that various school districts have reported retrofits not reflected in the state data, hindering a comprehensive overview of seismic safety. DaleAnn Baker, an engineer and parent, criticized the lack of transparency, stating, “Number one, you can’t see all the information, and number two, all the information may not even be in there. And that should be required.” Washington State is seismically vulnerable due to its numerous active fault lines, including the significant Cascadia subduction zone. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a major earthquake could lead to severe damage across approximately 2,000 schools in the state, although varying assessment methods lead to differing hazard categorizations. As of now, no state legislation mandates seismic evaluations for school buildings, which adds to the potential danger. Reports suggest that timelines for completing assessments have lapsed, with less than half of older schools evaluated to date. Although efforts to increase public awareness and accessibility of this seismic data exist, the state continues to face challenges due to incomplete information, inconsistent record-keeping, and the absence of systematic upgrades data for many schools. The Edmonds School District, having completed several seismic retrofits post-2001 Nisqually earthquake, exemplifies the ongoing disconnect, where prior retrofits do not appear in the state database. Similarly, a substantial amount of retrofit work becomes lost in oversight or is inaccurately categorized. Experts strongly advocate for comprehensive evaluations to accurately reflect and address the seismic safety of schools. There are plans to improve the state’s inventory to include seismic risks in unreinforced masonry structures; however, substantial work remains to mitigate the danger these buildings present. It is imperative that the state enhances its tracking and reporting of seismic conditions in schools to protect the safety of students and staff.

The article discusses the critical issues surrounding earthquake risk assessments in Washington State public schools. Various institutions have undertaken seismic retrofitting efforts, but many of these upgrades remain unrecorded in the official state database. This inadequacy has become particularly concerning given that a large number of schools are located in seismically vulnerable regions and that comprehensive evaluations have yet to be mandated by law. The discrepancies in data reporting across districts and state agencies pose further risks to community awareness and safety during potential seismic events. Historical accounts, such as the Nisqually earthquake, underscore the need for improved infrastructure safety protocols to protect students.

In conclusion, the lack of comprehensive and accurate earthquake risk data for public schools in Washington State presents a significant challenge to ensuring student safety. With many students attending schools built before modern seismic codes and the absence of mandated evaluations, the current state of preparedness for seismic events appears insufficient. While efforts are on the horizon to improve data collection and reporting, immediate action is required to ensure transparency and to protect the wellbeing of students in earthquake-prone areas.

Original Source: washingtonstatestandard.com