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--> --> A crack (shown above) in an outer wall at Lincoln Elementary School highlights structural concerns outlined in the seismic evaluation for the school district. Ashland Daily Tidings/CHRIS MILLER Ashland schools get shaky seismic grades By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings It might take more than a financial crunch to close Ashland schools, but an earthquake could certainly do the job. According to a 1995 Seismic Evaluation of the Ashland School District prepared by Portland-based Miller Consulting Engineers, the district's schools were rated highly vulnerable to seismic activity. The structural shortcomings of some Ashland schools re-double the problem of school funding shortfalls. On one hand, money needs to be spent to keep the school doors open. On the other, keeping vulnerable schools open could also open the door to disaster. Ultimately, more money is needed to make schools quake-proof, at a time when school coffers are at an all-time low. According to ASD Business Manager Loren Luman, the district requested the evaluation after school officials became concerned with the stability of the Ashland High School cafeteria and theater building following the 1993 Oregon earthquake, which registered in at 5.6. "It was kind of a reminder that we needed to address this. Up until then, we had not done a seismic evaluation," Luman said. The evaluation indicated that some schools are more susceptible to quake damage than others. However, the district scored low overall. On a scale of 1 to 14, with 14 as the lowest vulnerability, elementary school scores ranged from 1.5 to 3 with the Ashland Middle and High schools ranging from zero to 6 (See Chart). Of notable concern is Briscoe Elementary, earning a 1.5 due to a lack of reinforcing diaphragms in the roof and side walls. Diaphragms give additional support to structures so that if a quake should occur, the roof and walls will not cave in. James Roddey, community education coordinator for the Portland-based Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, noted that some buildings are more susceptible to earthquake damage by design. "Brick and mortar buildings are typically more vulnerable in earthquakes," Roddey said. Age also plays a factor. Any building established before the 1970s - the district's elementary schools were established between 1948 and 1965 with addition dates varying - without any structural improvements is not up to seismic standards, according to Roddey. Some improvements suggested in the seismic report presented to the district's School Closure Committee for review include: Installing a slip/expansion joint between the short wood building and tall concrete building at Bellview Elementary; reinforcing the diaphragm and tying the walls to the roof, ceiling and floors at Walker Elementary; reinforcing parapets and installing shearwalls at Lincoln Elementary; and separating the walkway canopies from the main building at Helman Elementary, among many other costly improvements totaling approximately $5.5 million - an amount that reflects 1995 dollars and is difficult to estimate by today's standards due to inflation and improvements in technology. To date, the district has accomplished a fraction of the recommendations by tearing down the former cafeteria and theater building in addition to removing or capping all elementary school chimneys with the exception of Lincoln's. Luman noted that while the district's financial shortcomings halted further exterior improvements, many precautions were taken to secure the interior such as bolting shelves and securing water heaters. However "You're not trying to save a building," Luman said, noting the focus is on the safety of students. While critics point out the fact that the report is now seven years old, it's not likely that the findings have been rendered invalid by the passage of years. According to Ronald Vandehey, partner in Miller Consulting Engineers, the improvements suggested in 1995 still hold. "You wouldn't find less items (for improvement), you would find more in the recent evaluations," Vandehey said. Even though it's difficult to predict when the next major earthquake will occur, seismologists and engineers agree that it might not be as far off or unlikely as many Oregonians think. Dr. Gene Humphreys, a professor in the department of Geological Sciences at the University of Oregon who specializes in seismology and regional tectonics, stated that a major subduction zone spanning the coast from California to Canada has the potential to do serious damage. "The bottom line is, faults that long can give earthquake magnitudes of up to 9.5," Humphreys said. Roddey, Humphreys and Vandehey agree that Oregon is in the "window of opportunity" for a major quake. "The recurring cycles in that quake vary. We are past the 300 year average. It could happen tomorrow. It wouldn't be a surprise," Vandehey said. "The ground shaking in Ashland would be a rolling motion that can be very intense and last a long time," Humphreys added. Roddey compared it to the 1989 San Francisco quake, a 7.1, that managed to amass $10 billion worth of damages in seconds, noting that Oregon is nowhere near as prepared as California for a quake. Although the district is financially unable to address most of the safety concerns in the report, some steps to improve safety have been implemented. According to Walker and Briscoe Elementary Principal Michelle Zundel, every district staff member received emergency response training through the Ashland Fire and Rescue's Community Emergency Response Team during the 2001-2002 school year. "Each school has taken their own precautions," Zundel said. These precautions include monthly quake and fire drills in addition to keeping safety kits in each classroom equipped with two-way radios should all power fail. As the district continues to balance the needs of the schools and students against a diminished budget, the financial impact to schools becomes increasingly clear. Buildings at risk Priority rating 1 has the highest vulnerability to seismic activity and priority rating 14 has the lowest vulnerability. Schools are listed in priority ranking · Old AHS Cafeteria and Theater Building 0.0 · Briscoe Elementary School 1.5 · AHS gym and Music Building 2 · Lincoln Elementary School 2 · Walker Elementary School 2 · AHS Science and Math Buildings 2 · Bellview Elementary School 3 · Helman Elementary School 3 · AHS Industrial Arts Building 3.5 · AMS 3.5 · AHS Humanities Building 3.5 · AHS English Building 4 · AHS small gym 6 Source: Miller Consulting Engineers Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing