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NW States Reluctant To Force Retrofits For Buildings That Could Kill In Big Quake

Liz Roll/FEMA News Photo

Last week’s earthquake in Mexico provided another reminder about the risks of poorly reinforced buildings.

According to government studies, there are thousands of older brick and concrete buildings in Oregon and Washington that could collapse in a strong earthquake. Seismic retrofits would likely save lives - maybe even yours. But until now city and state governments in the Northwest have been reluctant to require that of property owners. Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

Tom Banse covers national news, business, science, public policy, Olympic sports and human interest stories from across the Northwest. He reports from well known and out–of–the–way places in the region where important, amusing, touching, or outrageous events are unfolding. Tom's stories can be found online and heard on-air during "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" on NPR stations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
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