What you should know
- According to the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB), they conducted a structural stability inspection at 370 Fountain Avenue on Friday after receiving reports of cracks inside.
- Inspectors found cracks in the steps and vertical cracks in the interior masonry walls of the school gym and because of this it was determined that the bricks near the cracks could pose a safety issue, the DOB said. Due to these safety concerns, it was determined that the gym will be unoccupied until repairs are completed.
- Inspectors found no other areas of concern elsewhere in the school and ultimately determined that the rest of the school may still be occupied.
NEW YORK — A school gym in Brooklyn was deemed unsafe after Friday’s earthquake, authorities said.
According to the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB), they conducted a structural stability inspection at 370 Fountain Avenue on Friday after receiving reports of cracks inside.
Inspectors found cracks in the steps and vertical cracks in the interior masonry walls of the school gym and because of this it was determined that the bricks near the cracks could pose a safety issue, the DOB said. Due to these safety concerns, it was determined that the gym will be unoccupied until repairs are completed.
Inspectors found no other areas of concern elsewhere in the school and ultimately determined that the rest of the school may still be occupied.
Friday’s magnitude 4.8 tremor shook the tri-state area, an area where seismic activity is not common. The DOB said that after the earthquake, the department received about 80 reports of earthquake-related damage, most coming from Manhattan and the Bronx. Inspectors went to all locations to investigate and found no major damage or collapses. They found cracks in the walls in some places.
Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, the DOB said it added additional engineering and inspection staff over this weekend to respond to any new reports of damage to the building.
According to DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo, potential damage could be discovered in the coming days or weeks, so it is important to remain vigilant and report any damage to the department.
“For New Yorkers, we at the Department of Buildings are concerned about some of the downstream possibilities: cracks that could materialize or manifest within a week or a month, scaffolding retaining walls,” Oddo said. “If you see something problematic, call 311.”
2024-04-07 16:06:14
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