Quake cages proposed for Oregon schools

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland architect Ben Kaiser has proposed a way to protect school children from earthquakes and save school districts money.

 Kaiser says steel cages could be installed in schools to create safe zones where children would rush as a quake begins. The Oregonian reports (http://is.gd/6oDW2s ) the quake cages would cost about one-fourth as much as a seismic upgrade to a building. A 2007 state survey found that 57 percent of Oregon's more than 1,000 public schools were at risk of coming apart in a big quake. Portland public schools estimated in 2009 it would cost more than $420 million to upgrade its 95 buildings.