Many of the deaths of the past few rounds of storms and earthquakes are due to inadequate drainage systems, poor building regulation enforcement, and lack of emergency planning.
"Fauzi Bahar, Padang's mayor, said the city began enforcing stiffer building regulations in 2002 after a series of earthquakes, but the rules are often flouted by construction companies trying to save money on building materials. 'They are only thinking about costs, not the safety of the people,' he said. 'Most of the buildings that collapsed were those that didn't follow updated building codes,' he said. The local government lacks resources to check all buildings, he said, with only four staff members to check building licenses. The largest public hospital in Padang was among the area's most heavily damaged buildings, forcing doctors to treat patients in unsanitary conditions in makeshift tents."
FULL STORY: Disaster Plans Seen Lacking
Adapting Building Codes to Natural Disasters Saves Billions
New research shows that modern building codes have prevented around $27 billion in damage from natural disasters between 2000 and 2016, yet many cities still operate under decades-old regulations.
When the Earth Turns to Liquid
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Sept. 25, followed by a massive tsunami. Soil liquefaction caused by the tremor resulted in 1,700 homes being "swallowed" as the soil shifted. Deaths exceeded 1,400 on Oct. 3.
NYC Studies How to Build Resiliency
In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, a new task force convened by New York's Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn will look into potential changes to the city's building code, with recommendations due next summer.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years
The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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