Mohandes Magazine Fall-Winter Edition 2018

The first earthquake resilient building code was introduced after a magnitude 7, earthquake in Qazvin,
1962, with 12,000 losses of lives. Since then, the codes have been revised and upgraded in 1988,
and 1999.
Unfortunately, building codes were not consistently applied and missed upgrading older buildings,
particularly in rural areas. Since then we have witnessed more than 100,000 deaths in various natural
hazards in the past 50 years such as 1968 Dashte Bayaz, Khorasan (15,000); 1978 Tabas, Khorasan
(25,000); 1990 Manjil,Gilan (40,000-50,000); 2003 Bam (26,000 - 43,000) plus 25 other smaller deadly
events.
Your Role in Loss Reduction
Dissemination of factual information to people in harm’s way is crucial to help create awareness
and responsibility, without panic, on how to save own lives and their loved ones. Limited
resources of public sectors, or negligence or misplaced priorities of various governments should
not encourage people complacency in protecting our communities. Fortunately, new media technologies
can help achieve the first step of changing the safety culture among citizens, in a timely
manner.
A non-profit Khanehban Organization, for example, provides a platform to exchange knowhow,
technology, and ideas for earthquake damage reduction in Farsi.
A web-site has been established under; www.khanehban.org , Facebook, and Twitter to provide
information in Farsi for local residents of Iran, for all contributors of the latest technical information,
and for those who like support the cause with implementation.
In addition to allocating considerable resources of concerned citizens and authorities for relief and
recovery of survivors after the event, there must also be an emphasis on mitigation efforts to reduce
the impacts of natural disasters before they strike.
The Iranian diaspora, in addition to helping rebuild damaged and collapsed structures whether directly
or financially, can also put time and resources to establish local technical schools to focus on
skill development for young students who could subsequently help other people retrofit or rebuild
their existing homes and buildings that are located in disaster prone areas. This task can be most
effectively delivered by local NGOs, By Corp of Engineers without boarders, or a trained corp of
volunteers.
Remedies for Loss Reduction
I would humbly suggest that a permanent executive committee, and an expanded technical subcommittee
to remain in regular contact and organize meetings to help plan for disaster prevention
and damage reduction before the next expected and inevitable large magnitude earthquake in Iran.
Meanwhile, the engagement of the Canadian Society of Iranian Engineers and Architects, Iranian
Association of Builders, and Consulting Engineers can perhaps assist with training, and a push for
enforcing building codes. These organizations may also help with demanding for retrofit of existing
weak structures using collective technical resources of Iranians diaspora and those inside the
country.
I am optimistic that, in addition to arts and cultural bonds, disaster reduction could be another
cause for unity, enhancing Iranian Diaspora connections to utilize their vast resources and a fraction
of their productivity to help educate communities in Iran to protect themselves against a variety
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