First Analysis of the Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Plans Adopted after the 2009 L'Aquila Earthquake in Italy

On 6th of April 2009 an earthquake struck the Abruzzo Region, Central Italy. It was of Richter magnitude (Ml) 5.8 and moment magnitude (Mw) 6.3. The most affected centre was L'Aquila, a historical city and capital of the region, but several small towns were also involved in the event. This earthquake has been one of the most aggressive registered in Italy in the last 100 years. The level of damage has been so high and diffuse in many residential areas that it has been necessary create some "closed zones", where access of unauthorized persons was forbidden. Immediately after the earthquake legislature has realized the necessity of providing tools that would allow to carry out urgent interventions at urban level, because of the complexity and level of damage of the city centres affected by the seismic event. For this reason, the reference reconstruction law has required the provision of appropriate Reconstruction Plans for the old town centres of the Municipalities most affected by the earthquake of 2009. In this paper, the main features of the Reconstruction Plans are presented, reporting a brief outline of the damage and highlighting the standards adopted for the preservation of historical heritage and for supporting the implementation of interventions that are compatible with the preservation and restoration of buildings.