SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Utah Seismic Safety Commission examined 128 school buildings in the state and determined that 77 of them failed to meet federal earthquake safety guidelines. Most of the buildings are constructed from bricks and blocks that are not reinforced.
The findings were published in a report called “Utah Students at Rick: The Earthquake Hazards of School Buildings,” the Daily Herald reports. The 77 buildings identified as being unsafe have a 1-in-100 chance of collapsing during the largest earthquake that is considered likely, according to data collected by a computerized seismic evaluation tool.
A bill pushed by the commission last year would dedicate $500,000 to screen the state’s 1000 school buildings for earthquake safety. The bill passed in the House but died in the Senate.
The commission intends to push the bill again this year.
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