The report, which bases its estimates upon research done in 23 counties, doesn’t say what the next steps are. Most of the at-risk buildings were created before modern building codes.
One of the biggest dangers about concrete structures is that they are often very large. This means that a trembler could impact a greater number of people, especially if the buildings are apartment buildings.
From the California Watch:
As many as 17,000 older concrete buildings in California could be vulnerable during a major earthquake, according to a new inventory by a coalition of volunteer structural engineers, universities and government agencies.
A number of schools, state and local government buildings, and other vital infrastructure – such as police stations and hospitals – made the list.
During the San Fernando, Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes, several concrete buildings constructed before the implementation of modern codes collapsed or were catastrophically damaged.
Read the full article here.