Puerto Rico Earthquakes 2019 - 2020
Retrieving the
bodies of schoolchildren stands as an epic condemnation of any
society. It also means that future doctors and engineers and first
responders will be lost forever. That implies that not only classrooms
but also auditoriums, gymnasiums, bus storage areas and offices need
to be structurally sound. In the case of colleges and universities
that surety has to extend to dormitories and faculty offices. We note
that schools can make very good triage centers if hospitals are
overwhelmed. School usually have access problems already solved, so
they can serve as food and water distribution hubs and communications
centers after a disaster. Two recommendations would be that backup
copies of daily attendance and individual schedule data be stored
offsite in case the school records are damaged so first responders
know who is missing and where to look. Schools need to be able
to participate in any national emergency network. Getting
children and teachers back to the business of education as rapidly as
possible after a disaster is also good for morale.
Recommendations - Schools,
colleges and universities