Israel is an earthquake-prone land, but more than 50,000 of its buildings are not built to withstand a strong one.
By JOHN BENZAQUENtel aviv building 298.88(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Israel is an earthquake-prone land, but more than 50,000 of its buildings are not built to withstand a strong one. Earthquakes are not as common here as in the Far East or the western United States, but they do occur.
Israel is positioned astride the Syrian-African fault. Archeological finds prove that there have been strong earthquakes in the past, and there will probably be more in the future. The last recorded strong earthquake took place in 1927; more than 300 people were killed and at least 1,000 building were destroyed.
Even though a major earthquake can be expected at any time, Israel is not well prepared. A quake of over 6.5 on the Richter scale could cause great damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Amir Poltin is a senior partner at the Poltin and Gronberg Law Offices. His firm specializes in Tama 38, or Plan 38, a government program to structurally reinforce existing buildings to withstand a possible earthquake.
"There are more than 50,000 buildings in this country that were built before 1980 and were not designed and built according to the building and architectural standards that would withstand an earthquake," Poltin told The Jerusalem Post. "As a result, hundreds of thousands of people are at risk from a major earthquake."
So how can dwellers in these buildings protect themselves? The ideal situation would be legislation that would compel the proprietors of potentially unsafe buildings to make the necessary alterations. But this is easier said than done.
Structurally reinforcing an old building is a very expensive process; most of its residents would not be able to afford the infrastructure work and would remain at risk.
The government, deciding it lacked the funds to finance such a vast undertaking, conceived a plan by which the proprietors of a building would undertake the work involved without cost and with material benefit to themselves. Tama 38 allows them to upgrade their properties.
Owners who agree to finance the work involved in structurally reconstructing their building receive permission to enlarge their apartments and add additional stories on the roof. It is a complicated procedure that needs the authorization of at least 66 percent of the owners.
Tama 38 usually works when the proprietors come to an agreement with a construction company to do the work and pay for it; in return, the construction company acquires the rights to add additional stories on the roof, Poltin said. The construction company can them build apartments on the top floors, sell them and cover the costs of structurally strengthening the building and renovating the facade - and make a profit. Such a contract would also include up-grading the public areas such as the lobby and stairwell, installing an elevator and enlarging the apartments.
When Tama 38 is implemented wisely and effectively everyone benefits. The proprietors end up with a vastly improved residential building, renovated facade and up-graded infrastructure such as plumbing. More importantly, they get a structurally strengthened building able to able to withstand an earthquake - at no cost to themselves - and the construction company makes a nice profit.
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