A million homes and thousands of public buildings could be destroyed in the event of a strong earthquake in Israel, warns the Association of Contractors and Builders in Israel in a position paper presented to the Knesset Finance Committee. The ACBI warns that National Outline Plan 38 for the reinforcing of structures against earthquakes is inadequate, and does not enhance Israel's readiness in the event of The Big One.
ACBI VP Raul Srugo said, "National Outline Plan 38 in its present form is seriously flawed and will result in many casualties, for which the Ministry of Interior's National Planning and Building Commission will bear full responsibility. We call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act and order the Ministry of Interior and other relevant ministries to lead a dramatic move that will fundamentally change preparations for an earthquake, both by the public sector though long-term investment, and by the private sector by basic changes that will pull National Outline Plan 38 out of the mire."
Srugo compared Israel to earthquake shattered Haiti, saying that, after a strong earthquake, conditions in Israel would not be very different from the situation in Haiti. "Tens of thousands of buildings would be destroyed to their foundations, including public buildings and schools. There would be tens of thousands of dead and hundreds of thousands of homeless. Earthquake preparations by the public sector do not exist at all. It is necessary to immediately and without delay retrofit hundreds, and maybe thousands, of public buildings, including hospitals, schools, and kindergartens."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 26, 2010
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