SEISMIC RISK REDUCTION Stela PETRESCU MDPWH PMU General Director Ministry of Development, Public Works and Housing ICAR FORUM, Bucharest, 1-2 October 2007

Content Introduction MDPWH strategy HRMEP Project National Program of Action Conclusions

Introduction Earthquake impact Earthquakes - among the most deadly and destructive of natural hazards, killing around 2 million people in the 20 th century Seismic activity in Romania is one of the most important in Europe Bucharest is the highest exposed capital city of Europe to earthquake occurrences due to the Vrancea seismic fault

Introduction Seismic zoning of Romania’s territory

Introduction Significant Earthquakes in Romania Since 1908: 14 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater 4 March 1977 EQ Significant loses: - Human lives: 1578 fatalities - Damages/collapsed buildings - Economical: over US$2 Billion

MDPWH strategy The effects of the 1977 EQ motivated an important development of seismic risk reduction measures: – Strengthening of the existing vulnerable buildings – Improving the legal framework in seismic risk reduction domain – Development of engineering studies and the revision of several norms and regulations (including the harmonization with Euro codes) – Permanent upgrading of the seismic monitoring system and increasing the number of stations and sensors

MDPWH strategy Seismic strengthening of buildings – HRMEP Project - Technical cooperation project for strengthening vulnerable public buildings (hospitals, universities, administrative buildings for central and local authorities, communication centers, emergency facilities) – National Program of Action for reduction of seismic risk of multi-storied residential buildings ranked in I seismic class presenting public danger Capacity building – HRMEP Project Building Code Review Professional training in cost-effective retrofitting methods – National Program of Action Public Preparedness in case of EQ

MDPWH strategy One of the most effective technique in seismic hazard prevention is the structural reinforcement of the vulnerable buildings to reduce the exposure to damages By the nature of their use, hospitals, schools and important public building are considered as priority Romania developed a structural rehabilitation project with IBRD funds and GoR co-financing

Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project Romania was the first country in ECA region requesting WB assistance in preparation of a multi-sectorial hazard risk mitigation project on an ex-ante basis The overall objective of the project is to assist the Government of Romania in reducing the financial, social, environmental and economic vulnerability to natural disasters and water pollution accidents from mining activities MDPWH is the responsible line ministry to implement the seismic risk reduction component

Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project Component B - Earthquake Risk Reduction Objective – to reduce the seismic vulnerability of high priority technical and social infrastructure Strengthening of high priority public facilities - Design and supervision - Retrofitting of important public buildings Capacity Building - Building Code Review - Professional Training in Cost-effective Retrofitting Methods - Energy Sector Risk Assessment

Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project Component B - Earthquake Risk Reduction No.HIGH PRIORITY PUBLIC FACILITIES No. of facilities: TotalPhase I 1EMERGENCY AND DISASTER RESPONSE FACILITIES3028 2EMERGENCY HEALTH FACILITIES2219 3EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES12 4COMMUNICATION FACILITIES14- 5ESSENTIAL PUBLIC BUILDINGS66 TOTAL8465 Retrofitting the high priority public facilities

Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project 84 buildings 60 phase I of implementation

Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project BUCHAREST CITY Total 31 objectives Phase I: 29 objectives

Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project At present 60 buildings are subject of works and designing activities A supplementary list of new facilities is under preparation in order to replace some facilities that were withdrawn Current status - retrofitting

Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project Retrofitting works: 16 on-going retrofitting works: - 3 emergency and disaster response facilities (county administrative offices - town halls) -7 healthcare facilities (emergency hospitals) -5 educational facilities (universities) -1 essential public building

Hazard Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project Current status – capacity building Building Code Review The process is ongoing ensuring: - A comprehensive review of the Building Code for the existing buildings P100-3 focusing on applicable EQ design requirements - Development of a new chapter to introduce innovative retrofitting techniques in the Romanian engineering practice Professional training in cost-effective retrofitting methods – This process will be integrated with the Building Code Review as a related component to support up to date EQ engineering concepts to Romania

National Program of Action National Program of Action regarding the reduction of seismic risk to multistoried residential buildings, ranked in I seismic risk class, which represents a public danger Starting 2001

National Program of Action Liability of the owners Exceptionally financial facilities established by the Law No. 460/2001: – Providing the funds by transfer from the budget of MDPWH for financing the expenses of the owners in covering the value of technical survey and design and execution of retrofitting works – Repayment by the owners of the loan advanced from the state budget for the execution of the retrofitting works on equally monthly rates without any interest on a period lasting up to 25 years from the reception of the retrofitting works – Exemption from the payment of the monthly rates for the owners having a medium monthly income per family member under the average monthly salary/economy

National Program of Action The latest improvements of the legal framework consist in: – Mandatory notification of the owners by the Local Authorities – Elaboration in max. 2 years of the Technical Survey – Approval of the retrofitting intervention by the Mayor – Execution of the retrofitting works in max. 2 years after design completion – Penalties for owners in case of not accomplishing with the legislation and deadlines

National Program of Action Current status As a result of the National Program of Action promoted by the MDPWH, implemented through annual programs approved by The Romanian Government: – the retrofitting works were finalized for 11 residential buildings – there are ongoing retrofitting works for 7 residential buildings – retrofitting design is under preparation for 31 buildings, contracts for works will be soon tendered

Conclusions Romania is vulnerable to seismic risk due to the geographical location Reducing the seismic vulnerability of private and public buildings is a priority of MDPWH The structural retrofitting of public facilities and residential buildings is a key component of the seismic risk reduction and intense measures have to be taken to finalize the structural retrofitting to safely protect all vulnerable buildings Seismic risk reduction is more effective accompanied with risk transfer measures

SEISMIC RISK REDUCTION Thank you!