VULNERABILITY OF SCHOOLS IN PUERTO RICO TO TSUNAMIS

G. Pacheco-Crosetti, O. Collazos-Ordóñez, V. Rodríguez, J. Vázquez

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VULNERABILITY OF SCHOOLS IN PUERTO RICO TO TSUNAMIS

G. Pacheco-Crosetti, O. Collazos-Ordóñez, V. Rodríguez, J. Vázquez

Abstract

The archipelago of Puerto Rico is a region of high danger to tsunamis (ATC, 2019).

Recognizing that the school population in Puerto Rico is around 600,000 people (including students and

teachers, according to 2016 data), and that schools are essential facilities to safeguard against extreme events,

the objective of the research has been to evaluate if the Puerto Rican schools are vulnerable to tsunamis. In the

first instance, a comprehensive database of schools in Puerto Rico that could be affected by tsunami events

was developed and critical municipalities were identified. The municipalities of San Juan and Cataño were

selected as case studies in which a more detailed evaluation was carried out. This evaluation included the

analysis of the evacuation time required to move from each schoolyard to a safe place as the main vulnerability

factor. The shortest route and several alternative routes were evaluated for each school. The analysis included

as a complementary factor the status of the critical school evacuation route in each of the two municipalities.

In addition, a survey form was developed and administered to collect data on school evacuation preparedness.

The study found that the most vulnerable schools in each study municipality present excessive evacuation

times and unsafe and inadequate evacuation routes for the evacuation process. Several additional study areas

have been identified to improve the vulnerability assessment of schools. Therefore, a second phase of the

research is being developed to obtain better estimates of evacuation times, including all stages of the evacuation

process (evacuation timeline), analyzing the factors that affect pedestrian dynamics and simulation of each of

these phases and integrating data from evacuation drills. The results of these investigations are expected to

contribute to the rehabilitation processes of coastal schools by providing refined tools to decide if vertical

evacuation is required.

Keywords:

tsunamis
tsunamis effects
school vulnerability
school safety
Community Resilience

How to cite

G. Pacheco-Crosetti, O. Collazos-Ordóñez, V. Rodríguez and J. Vázquez, VULNERABILITY OF SCHOOLS IN PUERTO RICO TO TSUNAMIS, RIDNAIC (2022). Vol. 22, 4 URL https://www.scipedia.com/public/Pacheco-Crosetti_et_al_2022a

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