Disaster Preparedness for Earthquakes

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Disaster Preparedness for Earthquakes

• Jamaica Ivery-Glover, MPH
• Walden University
• PUBH 6165-4
• Instructor Dr. Robert Marino
• Winter QTR, 2010

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Earthquake Preparedness

• MCS Grades 9-12
• Inform and Equip students
• Prepare for
• Protect against

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Learning Outcomes

• Basic earthquake knowledge
• What actions to take before an earthquake
• What actions to take during an earthquake
• What actions to take after an earthquake
• Emotional, psychological aspects of dealing with
  earthquakes

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What is an earthquake?

• An earthquake is what happens when two blocks of
  the earth suddenly slip past one another.

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Parts of an Earthquake

• Fault line- the surface where the earth slips
• Epicenter the location on the surface of the
  earth where the earthquake starts
• Hypocenter the location below the earths
  surface where the earthquake starts

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Types of Shocks

• Foreshocks -relatively smaller earthquakes that
  precede the largest earthquake in a series
• Aftershocks - earthquakes that follow the largest
  shock of an earthquake sequence
• Mainshocks- the largest earthquake in a sequence,
  sometimes preceded by one or more foreshocks, and
  almost always followed by many aftershocks.

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Aftershock Flash Animation
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New Madrid Earthquake 1811-1812

• Landslide trench and ridge in the Chickasaw
  Bluffs east of Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee,
  resulting from the New Madrid earthquake.

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New Madrid Seismic Zone

• Extends from northeast Arkansas, through
  southeast Missouri, western Tennessee, western
  Kentucky through southern Illinois

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Wenchuan (Sichuan) China Earthquake (2008)

• USGS Multimedia Gallery (Video)--Wenchuan
  (Sichuan) China Earthquake filmed by Yingying
  Huang

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What to do BEFORE an Earthquake

• Check for hazards in the home
• fasten shelves to walls
• place heavy objects on low shelves
• brace light fixtures that hang overhead
• repair electrical wiring and deep ceiling or
  foundational cracks
• FEMA. (2010). What to do Before an Earthquake.
  Accessed January 19, 2011. Retrieved from
  http//www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.sh
  tm

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What to do BEFORE an Earthquake

• Identify safe places inside and outside
• under sturdy heavy furniture
• in the open away from objects that can fall
  on you
• against an inside wall
• away from glass or heavy furniture that
  could fall on you
• FEMA. (2010). What to do Before an Earthquake.
  Accessed January 19, 2011. Retrieved from
  http//www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.sh
  tm

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What to do BEFORE an Earthquake

• Educate yourself, family and friends
• Contact the Red Cross or other
  organizations concerning earthquake readiness
• Develop an emergency plan
• designate a rally area in case of
  separation
• designate an out of state family contact

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What to do BEFORE an Earthquake

• Make a disaster kit
• first aid kit and manual
• flashlights and batteries
• battery operated radio and batteries
• food and water
• cash
• medications/prescriptions
• FEMA. (2010). What to do Before an Earthquake.
  Accessed January 19, 2011. Retrieved from
  http//www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.sh
  tm

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What to do DURING an Earthquake

• Take Cover!
• If possible, get to your safe place and hold on
  until the shaking stops
• FEMA. (2010). What to do During an Earthquake.
  Accessed January 19, 2011. Retrieved from
  http//www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.sh
  tm

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What to do AFTER an Earthquake

• Expect Aftershocks
• can occur hours, days, weeks, or even months
  after an earthquake
• Listen for emergency information
• Stay away from damaged areas
• Help the injured or trapped
• Clean up spilled liquids to avoid fire
• Inspect utilities

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Emotional /Psychological Aspects

• Fear is a common response to traumatic events
• Should only last for a short period of time
• Some may need to talk with family, friends,
  or a spiritual advisor
• Some may need to seek professional help

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Emotional/Psychological Aspects

• PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• an anxiety disorder that can develop after
  exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which
  grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.

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Reactions to look for

• Irritability
• Lack of sleep
• Lack of interest in things that used to be of
  interest
• Lack of responsiveness or numbness
• Poor concentration
• Suicidal thoughts

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Resources for obtaining help

• Mental health facilities
• Privately owned psychiatric practices
• Primary care physicians
• Community health clinics/facilities

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Presentation overview

• Basic earthquake knowledge
• What to do before, during and after an earthquake
  has occurred
• Emotional/ psychological aspects of dealing with
  trauma from earthquakes

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References

• USGS. (2006)ID. Fuller, M.L. 353. USGS
  Photographic Library. Retrieved from
  http//libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/show_pictu
  re.cgi?IDID.Fuller,M.L.353
• FEMA. (2010). What to do Before an Earthquake.
  Accessed January 19, 2011. Retrieved from
  http//www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.sh
  tm
• FEMA. (2010). What to do During an Earthquake.
  Accessed January 19, 2011. Retrieved from
  http//www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.sh
  tm
• FEMA. (2010). What to do After an Earthquake.
  Accessed January 19, 2011. Retrieved from
  http//www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.sh
  tm
• American Red Cross.(2010). Recovering
  Emotionally. Retrieved January 19, 2011 from
  http//www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d2
  29a5f06620c6052b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoidffd3f20f
  5fcb5210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRDcpsextcurrchannel
  1
• UALR. Introduction to the New Madrid Seismic
  Zone. Accessed January 19, 2011. Retrieved from
  http//www.eas.slu.edu/Earthquake
  Center/SEISMICITY/NewMadridGeneral.html
• Encyclopedia of Arkansas. (2010) New Madrid
  Seismic Zone. Accessed January 19, 2011.
  Retrieved from http//www.encyclopediaofarkansas.n
  et/encyclopedia/media-detail.aspx?mediaID-6440
• Huang, Y. (2009) Wenchuan (Sichuan) China
  Earthquake. USGS . Accessed January 23, 2011
  from http//gallery.usgs.gov/videos/272

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References

• USGS. (2009) Earthquake Glossary Aftershocks.
  Accessed Januray19, 2011 from http//earthquake.us
  gs.gov/learn/glossary/?termaftershocks
• USGS. (2009) Earthquake Glossary Foreshocks.
  Accessed Januray19, 2011 from http//earthquake.us
  gs.gov/learn/glossary/?termforeshocks
• USGS. (2009) Earthquake Glossary Mainshocks.
  Accessed Januray19, 2011 from http//earthquake.us
  gs.gov/learn/glossary/?termmainshocks
• USGS. (2009) The Science of Earthquakes. Accessed
  January 19, 2011 from http//earthquake.usgs.go
  v/learn/kids/eqscience.php
• USGS. (2009) Foreshocks, Mainshocks and
  Aftershocks Accessed January 19, 2011 from
  http//earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/animations/animat
  ion.php?flash_titleAftershockFlashAnimationfla
  sh_fileaftershockflash_width400flash_height27
  5
• NIMH.(2006) Helping Children and Adolescents Cope
  with Violence and Disasters What Parents Can Do.
  National Institutes of Health. No. 07-3518.
  Accessed January 23, 2011 from http//www.nimh.nih
  .gov/health/publications/helping-children-and-adol
  escents-cope-with-violence-and-disasters-parents/h
  elping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-violence
  -and-disasters-what-parents-can-do.pdf
• NIMH.(2011) Post Traumatic Stress
  Disorder.(PTSD). Accessed January 23, 2011
  fromhttp//www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-tra
  umatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

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Additional resources

• www.Redcross.org earthquake safety checklist
• www.Ceri.memphis.edu- center for earthquake
  research and information at the Univ. of Mem.
• www.Hud.gov - provides information on disaster
  preparedness and recovery programs