Earthquake preparedness

Earthquake preparedness refers to a variety of measures designed to help individuals, businesses, and local and state governments in earthquake prone areas to prepare for significant earthquakes. Preparedness measures are part of the emergency management cycle, and can be refined through the use of an Earthquake scenario, such as The Great Southern California ShakeOut. Awareness of historical events such as those that document the New Madrid Seismic Zone are also useful in anticipating the effects of possible future events.

Introduction

Earthquake preparedness measures can be divided into:
*Retrofitting and earthquake resistant designs of new buildings and lifeline structures (e.g. bridges, hospitals, power plants).
*Response doctrines for state and local government emergency services.
*Preparedness plans for individuals and businesses.

Building design and retrofitting

Main Seismic retrofit.In the United States, buildings codes in earthquake prone states currently often have specific requirements designed to increase new buildings' resistance to earthquakes. Older buildings and homes that are not up to code may be retrofitted to increase their resistance. Such retrofitting is often required for older governmental buildings under state laws. Retrofitting and earthquake resistant design are also employed in elevated freeways and bridges. Current buildings code is not designed to make buildings earthquake proof in the sense of them suffering zero damage. The goal of most building designs is to reduce earthquake damage to a building such that it protects the lives of occupants and thus tolerance of some limited damage is accepted and considered a necessary tradeoff [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/15/HOGQ9I7P2T1.DTL] . Earthquake retrofitting techniques and modern building codes are designed to prevent total destruction of buildings for earthquakes of no greater than 8.5 on the Richter Scale [http://www.il-st-acad-sci.org/kingdom/geo1001.html] .

Personal preparedness

Homeowners, renters, and businesses in earthquake territory are encouraged by governments to have an earthquake kit available with enough supplies for three days. From experience, this is considered the amount of time it takes for emergency services to reach full strength. Such disaster supplies kits are also useful in other natural hazards. State and federal governments publish earthquake preparedness booklets. [http://www.lafd.org/eqindex.htm] .

Other things one can do are moving heavy or dangerous objects from high places to low, securing bookshelves and other furniture that could topple into the wall, replacing halogen and incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones to minimize fire risk. Having a disaster supply kit is useful, but access is an important factor, having close access to battery powered light everywhere in the home may be of great help during emergencies.

External links

* [http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/ USGS] Earthquake hazards
* [http://www.earthquakecountry.info/ earthquakecountry.info] Answers to FAQs about Earthquakes and Earthquake Preparedness
* [http://www.scec.org/ The Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC)]
* [http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/ Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country] An Earthquake Science and Preparedness Handbook produced by SCEC
* [http://www.earthquakecountry.info/daretoprepare/ Dare to Prepare] An earthquake preparedness campaign with detailed information of securing your [http://www.earthquakecountry.info/daretoprepare/secure_your_building.html building] and its [http://www.earthquakecountry.info/daretoprepare/secure_your_stuff.html contents]
* [http://hsv.com/genlintr/newmadrd/ The Great New Madrid Earthquake of 1811/1812] (Central USA)
* [http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/ccep] University of Mississippi,Center for Community Earthquake Preparedness