Heart Craft Homes pass the Dade County, Florida's hurricane building code requirements! Petra and Heart Craft buildings are designed to be some of the structurally strongest in the world and naturally have a high "seismic rating" (earthquake resistance), and the highest rating when optional earthquake package is added. TSUNEO OKADA Professor Institute of Industrial Science University of Tokyo, Japan writes in his article "Codes We Don't Want to Crack - How Seismic Design and Building Codes Have Helped Reduce the Damage Caused by Earthquakes": The Great Hanshin Earthquake on January 17 was a major seismic event, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale of magnitude, 7 on the Japanese scale of intensity, and XI on the MM (Modified Mercalli) scale used in the US. Not only was the Great Hanshin Earthquake an inland type earthquake, but it occurred on an unmonitored fault located directly beneath a major metropolis (Kobe) of 1.5 million inhabitants. Consequently, loss of life and property was enormous. Over 160,000 buildings and houses were damaged in the Kobe earthquake.

More than 50,000 wooden houses were completely destroyed. 90% of the approximately 5,500 people killed in the quake were crushed to death in fallen buildings.

Two key features of the destruction were the fires caused by collapsing wooden buildings and the extent of damage to reinforced concrete and steel-structure buildings built 20 to 30 years ago, before implementation of the current Seismic Design Code. Along with preventive measures taken before an earthquake occurs, measures to prevent secondary disasters after the quake are also important. There are two important points. One is fire fighting. In the Kobe disaster, water mains were broken and fire hydrants damaged. Without water, it took two full days for the fires to be completely extinguished. (Note: Heart Craft Homes provide highest seismic strength ratings and are fire proof!) Consequently, the development of an earthquake-resistant water supply infrastructure is urgently needed . . .

After the Mexico City earthquake of 1985, inspectors condemned a high-rise apartment building that had been damaged and the several hundred occupants were forced to evacuate the premises. The building collapsed in an aftershock the next day. In the wake of the Mexico City disaster, the important role of inspectors was recognized in the US. California implemented an inspection system in 1989 and inspectors were mobilized in the Loma Prieta earthquake that same year and the 1994 earthquake in Northridge, Los Angeles."

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