SEISMIC RESILIENCE OF THE SCHOOLS IN BANJA LUKA- SOME CONSTRUCTIONAL AND PREPAREDNESS ASPECTS

Banja Luka is a city which, in October 1969, experienced the strongest earthquake in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On that occasion 2/3 of the school buildings were severely damaged or destroyed. Banja Luka students were forced to attend that school year throughout the former Yugoslavia. Seismic risk management for schools on the territory of Banja Luka is significant from the aspect of protecting students as a vulnerable category of society. It is also important observing the fact that school facilities are used as facilities for temporary mass accommodation of the affected population during emergencies. Examining the level of earthquake protection, i.e. seismic resilience of the schools in Banja Luka, as a city with a high seismic hazard, implies the resistance of school buildings (material resilience) but also the preparedness of school communities (administration, students and teachers) to react properly in the event of an earthquake (non-material resilience). The results of the research indicate weaknesses in both the material and non-material resilience of schools. The structural aspects of school resilience include the seismic hazard of the area, the soil at school locations in terms of the expected seismic effect, the age and poor maintenance of the buildings, and the undefined ownership of school buildings. Regarding non-structural resistance, a low level of carrying out preventive activities such as education, training and practical exercises for dealing with earthquakes was identified as well as inadequate planning documentation.