Pending state bills are supported by earthquake experts and homebuilding organizations, but they have also generated skepticism.
Damage to Anchorage’s Minnesota Drive from 2018 earthquake is seen from the air. The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck on Nov. 30 of that year. on record ripped through Alaska and 5 ½ years after a different earthquake caused costly damage to structures and roads in the Southcentral region, there are no statewide codes to protect homes against future seismic disasters., would create such statewide residential building codes.
“There is concrete evidence now that there are improvements that could be made. And I think some of those are reflected here in these bills. But the urgency that gets them passed, I think, is missing,” Salisbury said. “I personally feel like we run into that issue a lot with these types of hazards that are kind of few and far between but really impactful when they do occur.
“I think that’s the correct statement, that people don’t learn from history, and they are often doomed to repeat it,” said the senator, a former teacher.That organizations’ representatives, in committee testimony and written messages, described building codes as a matter of professionalism and consumer protection, applicable to Alaska’s extreme weather conditions and home-heating needs as well as to seismic safety.
The wrecked Four Seasons Apartment Building in Anchorage is seen in the aftermath of the 1964 earthquake. At magnitude 9.2, it was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America. The shaking and the resulting tsunami caused 131 deaths, according to federal officials. Even if a licensed contractor is found and hired, compliance with codes could be costly, he said later in the hearing. “Let’s say a contractor’s building a house out on St. Lawrence Island, Savoonga, even out on Diomede. You’ve got to pay for the inspector to get out there. And then there’s a delay until he gets out there and inspects it,” he said.Other skeptics have cited more philosophical opposition, such as that expressed by Rep.
But building codes can save money in the long run, Salisbury said. They help prevent costly damages, and they also make it more likely that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will fund retrofits to improve safety prior to disasters, he said.As for the Senate version, Bjorkman gives it little chance of moving beyond that body’s finance committee. He is unlikely to reintroduce it next year, he said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alaska Pacific will partner with Seattle University to offer the state’s first law programAlaska is the only state without a law school, forcing prospective lawyers to leave the state.
Read more »
Texas Has Kicked 1.3M Kids Off Medicaid, Most Often for Incomplete ApplicationsThe state has the rest of April to process another 195,000 pending cases
Read more »
U.K. High Court delays Julian Assange extradition pending U.S. assurancesThe United States will have three weeks to send the High Court its assurances that Assange will receive the full protection of U.S. laws and not be subject to the death penalty.
Read more »
Bexar County DA’s Office to recuse itself from pending Erik Cantu casesThe Bexar County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday that it will be recusing itself from Erik Cantu’s evading arrest cases.
Read more »
This week: Consumer confidence, Cintas earnings, pending home salesThe Conference Board on Tuesday issues its consumer confidence index for March; on Wednesday workplace uniform company Cintas reports its latest earnings and on Thursday the National Association of Realtors releases its pending home sales report for February.
Read more »
California Lawmakers Extend FAFSA Deadline To May 2, Pending Governor's SignatureI explore how community college students achieve their goals — whether they’re fresh out of high school, or going back to school for the first time in years — and how colleges help them do so.
Read more »