Dozens of SF buildings at risk of collapsing from earthquake, data reveals

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco has released new data that shows 24 city-owned buildings are at risk of collapsing from an earthquake. Even more are prone to serious damage according to the city’s ratings.

KRON4 reports on where the most concerns are and what’s being done to fix them.

Residents have seen the damage that can be done in San Francisco after a large earthquake, and a lot has been done in the last 20 years to retrofit buildings. Still more work to be done at two dozen city-owned buildings, from fire stations to homeless shelters.

San Francisco measures a building’s risk of earthquake damage in Seismic Hazard Ratings (SHR). San Francisco Office of Resilience and Capital Planning Director Brian Strong says 24 city-owned buildings have received an SHR of four — the worst possible score.

“Suggests that there’s a potential for a collapse, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen, but it means that there’s a potential for that to happen, and that’s the worst-case scenario,” Strong said. “It also means that after the earthquake, we’re not going to be able to repair the building.”

On the list of 4 SHRs: public health buildings, police stations and eight fire stations, including Station 7 in SoMa.

Captain Jonathan Baxter said the station is one of two that would be used as a Main Incident Command Post in the event of an emergency, like an earthquake.

“This station would actually facilitate running operations for half of San Francisco, so it’s extremely imperative that we get these buildings set up,” Baxter said.

Baxter said Mayor Daniel Lurie has increased the funding for capital improvements in his budget, which will allow fire stations to be retrofitted in case the next big one hits.

“Some of the things that we’re going to be looking at is securing the building to the foundation, securing sure walls and making sure we have reinforced secure utilities such as gas and electrical,” Baxter said.

Another two dozen city buildings were given a 3 SHR, meaning they are less likely to collapse but will still need major repairs after a major earthquake.

One of those buildings is the Hall of Justice on Bryant Street where thousands of people enter each year. According to Strong, there are nine buildings in the process of being retrofitted — either in the design faze or under construction.

“We want to be upfront with citizens and with policy makers and with everyone that this is where we are, but that we have plans and we are making progress,” Strong said.

Earthquake retrofitting isn’t a cheap job. Strong says that when SF General Hospital had a retrofit project done in 2012, it cost around $887 million to complete.