Natural Disasters Require Special Building Design

Natural disasters happen everywhere in the world. Many cause property damage and loss of life. But researchers say the severity of their effects can be reduced if people take steps to prepare.

A new exhibit teaches what governments and individuals can do to lessen the effects. The show is taking place at the National Building Museum here in Washington, D.C.

Natural disasters take place often, and sometimes unexpectedly, across the United States. But there is technology that can save property and lives.

Chrysanthe Broikos organized the exhibit at the National Building Museum. She says large buildings and other structures can survive strong earthquakes if they are built with some level of flexibility. In other words, they need to be able to bend and move as the earth shakes.

“We need to let buildings move and we can actually understand where they might fail, and then go in and design buildings with that in mind.”

One building design is called a “special moment frame.” It enables movement at points where large load-bearing supports join each other. Rubber-based foundation blocks let buildings move, while huge shock absorbers help to limit the shaking.

The museum exhibit has a model of a wind wall built at the International Hurricane Research Center in Florida. The model shows how some roofs or tops of buildings are more likely to be destroyed than others because of the strong winds of hurricanes and tornadoes. Chrysanthe Broikos says tests show that a moderately angled roof is best able to withstand wind storms.

A Tuesday morning photo shows Larry Nelson, 73, as he surveys what’s left of his home after Monday's tornadoes struck Pilger, Nebraska, June 17, 2014.xA Tuesday morning photo shows Larry Nelson, 73, as he surveys what’s left of his home after Monday's tornadoes struck Pilger, Nebraska, June 17, 2014.

“This hipped roof shape actually withstands better than, actually both, a flat roof or a gable roof.”

In areas with powerful winds, researchers have strongly urged the creation of at least one ‘safe room.’ This is a place where building occupants can spend the most dangerous part of the storm.

Another concern is how to deal with storm surges and flooding. Some coastal communities in the U.S. have made artificial reefs from oyster shells instead of rocks. The builders use shells collected from restaurants to create the barriers.

“It turns out that oyster reefs actually help to attenuate wave action. They also help with soil erosion.”

Chrysanthe Broikos also suggests setting aside land along the coast for parks instead of housing. She says this is more natural and keeps valuable property away from danger.

As for forest fires, researchers now suggest clearing an area about 60 meters wide around a single-family house.

“What that means is trying to keep that area free of material that easily combusts.”

Some natural disasters cannot be prevented. But researchers say planning and timely investment can provide the same kind of protection as putting sunblock on your skin before spending the day outside the house.

I’m Caty Weaver.

词汇解析

crush

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.压碎;击败;使...失望;折皱;压榨

n.压碎;压榨;极度拥挤;<口>迷恋

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

A windmill is used to crush grain into flour.

风车被用来把谷粒轧成面粉。

用作名词 (n.)

I've got a crush on my pretty toy pistol.

我把我漂亮的玩具手枪给压坏了。

mixture

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.混合;混合物

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

You need a spoon to beat the mixture smooth.

你需要用一把调羹来搅均混合液。

The bottom layer is a mixture of sand and clay.

最下面的一层是沙和泥的混合物。

liquor

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

n.酒;烈性酒;液剂

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Many airports sell duty-free liquor.

很多机场出售免税酒。

sugar

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.糖，食糖;糖缸;甜言蜜语，阿谀奉承;宝贝，心肝

v.使甜;在...上撒糖

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

I bought him a packet of sugar.

我给他买了一袋糖果。

用作动词 (v.)

If the lemonade tastes bitter,sugar it.

如果柠檬水发苦，就加糖。

organic

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.器官的;有机的;有组织的;根本的;接近自然的

n.有机物质

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The illness is organic in origin.

该病起初是器质性疾患。

用作名词 (n.)

Oil-yielding organic matter is contained in the shales.

在这些页岩里有产油的有机物质。

avoid

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

vt.避免;逃避;[律]使无效;撤销

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

You should avoid unnecessary repetition.

你应避免不必要的重复。

component

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.零部件;元件;组成部分;成分

adj.组成的;构成的

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

A chemist can seperate a medicine into its components.

化学家能把一种药物的各种成分分解出来。

用作形容词 (adj.)

The processing and assembling business is a component part of our foreign trade.

加工装配贸易是我们对外贸易的一个组成部分。

reduce

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.减少;缩小;使落魄;简化;还原

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

We need to reduce our dependence on oil as a source of energy.

在能源方面,我们需减少对石油的依赖。

Electrons from water involved in noncyclic photophosphorylation are used to reduce the added substance.

非循环光合磷酸化中由水提供的电子被用来还原产物。