I am a structural engineer in the Bay Area. I have so angry ever since I heard that there were 900 students traped in a school building in Sichuan. I know those buildings are not in big city with advanced technology, but It is just not supposed to happen at 2008.
In 1933, an earthquake striked Long Beach California (magnitude 6.3). 120 people were killed. Only one month later, The Field Act was passed to design all California K-12 school buildings earthquake resistant. Now after 75 years, all the school buildings have special design procedure, special design reviews, and special inspection during the construction. Hopspitals and emergency centers receive even more attention. I can say the school building our children are in will provide life safty under design level earthquake.
It is time to do something for the children in China.
