Call from Naci Görür for earthquake-resilient cities: “Urban transformation alone is not preparation”

Geoscientist Prof. Dr. Naci Görür listed the steps he believes must be followed to create earthquake-resilient settlement areas in Turkey in a post on his social media account. Görür emphasized that cities cannot be made earthquake-ready solely by constructing new buildings.

The first item in Görür's post was the proposal to establish a "Ministry of Disaster." Görür stated that this ministry should be organized, budgeted, and begin working rapidly in earthquake zones.

Drawing attention to the importance of soil data in earthquake preparedness, Görür stated that micro-zoning studies must be conducted for every settlement area. He noted that cities should be addressed not only by their building stock, but by all their components, including soil, geology, geophysics, administration, the public, infrastructure, ecosystem, environment, and economy.

“YOU CANNOT LIVE IN A CITY JUST BY BUILDING HOUSES”

Stating that urban transformation does not mean earthquake preparedness on its own, Görür remarked, “You cannot live in a city just by building houses.” Pointing out that creating an earthquake-resilient city is a long-term process, Görür argued that a city cannot be fully prepared for an earthquake in less than 15-20 years.

Görür's 7-point call, shared under the title “Earthquake-resilient settlement areas,” is as follows:

• 1. First, a ministry must be established: Ministry of Disaster. It must be organized, budgeted, and begin working in earthquake zones.
• 2. Micro-zoning studies of the settlement area must be conducted.
• 3. The components of the city must be made earthquake-resilient.
• 4. In addition to natural components such as soil, geology, and geophysics, administration, the public, infrastructure, building stock, ecosystem, environment, and economy must be examined.
• 5. Urban transformation is not earthquake preparedness. You cannot live in a city just by building houses.
• 6. A city cannot be prepared for an earthquake in less than 15-20 years.
• 7. “Do not forget Venezuela.”

At the end of his post, Görür drew attention to the need to learn lessons from global examples and the consequences of negligence in disaster preparedness with the phrase “Do not forget Venezuela.”

News Source: 12punto