ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER – October 2011
EARTHQUAKE AND ECONOMY RELATIONSHIP
Countries facing earthquake risks should never forget this reality, even for a moment. Since the location, time, and magnitude of earthquakes are uncertain, the measures against their effects must be swift, and the solutions must be permanent. Turkey faces a massive building stock that is not resistant enough to earthquakes. The most logical solution, which is widely discussed, is urban transformation. Urban transformation is the process of redesigning and rebuilding the infrastructure of cities, such as sewage, drinking water, and gas networks, as well as the superstructure, including housing and workplaces. In this article, I aim to highlight the costs of urban transformation projects and the potential costs of post-earthquake recovery efforts.
Is urban transformation necessary? Who knows when the next earthquake will happen? Will it even occur in Elazığ? Many such questions are seeking answers that are "already known!" ELAZIĞ IS CONSTANTLY SHAKING! Just because we don't feel it doesn’t mean there is no earthquake. Even one of these earthquakes being severe means we are facing an earthquake disaster. Therefore, necessary precautions must be taken for buildings with insufficient earthquake resistance before that day comes.
In the process of urban transformation, it is not about the loss of the state and the people, but their gain. The new housing projects should not be built in new settlement areas outside the city but should be constructed within the existing settlement areas through new zoning regulations. In this way, buildings will be renewed, infrastructures will be arranged, and streets will be widened. Furthermore, zoning regulations for existing settlement areas can make these areas attractive to the private sector as well.
It is not the high-rise buildings that kill people in earthquakes, but poorly built structures. There should be no concern regarding the seismic safety of high-rise buildings that are designed according to standards and regulations and constructed under controlled conditions. In all the earthquakes that have occurred so far, no building has collapsed just because it was a high-rise. Especially in our old neighborhoods, site constructions done by the private sector on a block basis will undoubtedly pave the way for urban transformation.
As seen, urban transformation prevents both the loss of lives and financial damages. However, if these precautions are not taken and an earthquake strikes, our history is full of examples where earthquakes not only destroyed buildings but also shook and destroyed the economy, and not only killed people but also took away the future of the country.
It seems beneficial to recall the devastating earthquakes in our recent history. In the 1992 Erzincan Earthquake, more than 2,000 people died, and over 10,000 buildings were damaged. In the 1998 Adana-Ceyhan Earthquake, 146 people died, and over 30,000 buildings were damaged. In the 1999 Kocaeli and 1999 Düzce Earthquakes, more than 20,000 people lost their lives, and over 100,000 buildings were damaged. According to the British economy newspaper Financial Times, the indirect macroeconomic loss from the Marmara Earthquakes was $40 billion. Considering these earthquake balances, were the 1994 and 2001 crises in Turkey just coincidences?
The impact of earthquakes on the national economy is not limited to the loss of lives and properties, as the real damage is much more extensive. After an earthquake disaster, the recovery process takes months or even years. The psychological distress experienced by the people who have lived through the earthquake may last a lifetime. The moment the state starts mobilizing its resources to the earthquake-affected region, the invitation to an economic crisis has already been sent.
In the earthquake-affected area, the first thing that is determined is the disaster boundaries. Many institutions provide support for this work, and their ongoing tasks get delayed. The first priority is to meet the basic needs of the affected citizens, such as food. After that, housing becomes the biggest issue. The cost of constructing housing for citizens whose homes have been destroyed or heavily damaged is substantial. Meanwhile, the damaged schools and hospitals must be urgently repaired or rebuilt. While all these works are being planned, search and rescue operations and debris removal efforts must continue at full speed.
Earthquakes also bring health problems. Particularly, due to water shortages and sanitation issues, epidemics may emerge. The health services for citizens require a separate financial source. There will be many expense items, which will always be recorded as expenditure in the state budget.
As seen, one of the country's most significant problems is tied to the earthquake-building relationship. The construction industry is an open sector for shortcomings, mistakes, and corruption. It is already quite difficult to solve these issues during normal times. After an earthquake, in the emergency constructions that need to be done, won't these problems become even more apparent? Therefore, shouldn't the deficiencies related to buildings be addressed before the earthquake? At this point, citizens also have an important role to play. The urban transformation project should not be removed from the agenda. Only in this way can beautiful steps be taken for a fearless future in the face of earthquakes.
Urban transformation projects do not burden the economy; on the contrary, they contribute to it. On the other hand, it is almost impossible to even calculate the expenditures that will be incurred after a potential earthquake disaster. The uncompensated expenses caused by earthquakes will return to our country as an economic crisis.
In light of all that has been said, let us turn to today's question: “Are we rich enough to ignore urban transformation efforts?”