tectonic hazard case studies

Question 1

tectonic hazard an MEDC

Answer 1

The Northridge earthquake, California USA 1994

Question 2

causes of the Northridge earthquake

Answer 2

• it was on a conservative plate boundary (transform)
• The boundary between the plates has many faults, the plates do not move smoothly they stick, stresses build up until they get too great and suddenly the plates jerk past one another
• before the earthquake occurred so one knew the earthquake existed

Question 3

primary impacts of the Northridge earthquake

Answer 3

• 57 people died
• 1500 injured
• 25,000 dwellings destroyed
• triggered land slides
• many buildings collapsed

Question 4

secondary impacts of the Northridge earthquake

Answer 4

• 15,000 after-shock
• 22,000 homeless
• losses of $20 billion
• landslides blocked roads and damaged water lines and homes
• broken gas pipes caused fires

Question 5

short-term response to the Northridge earthquake

Answer 5

• millions of dollars was spent on immediate aid and later helping to rebuild the area
• 600,000 people applied for state and federal help

Question 6

long-term response to the Northridge earthquake

Answer 6

• buildings were made stronger and certain buildings were built to withstand stronger earthquakes
• education in schools taught emergency procedures
• water and sanitation eventually supplied for 1.7 million people

Question 7

tectonic hazard in an LEDC

Answer 7

-Haiti earthquake 2010

Question 8

cause of the Haiti earthquake

Answer 8

-The North American plate slid past the Caribbean plate on a Conservative boundary

Question 9

-primary impacts of the earthquake in Haiti

Answer 9

• 316,000 people were killed
• 1 million made homeless
• 3 million affected
• 250,000 homes and 30,000 other buildings including the Presidents Palace and 60% of government buildings were either destroyed or badly damaged
• transport and communication links were badly damaged including the airport tower and runway
• hospitals and schools were badly damaged
• The main prison was destroyed and 4000 inmates escaped

Question 10

secondary impacts of the earthquake Haiti

Answer 10

• One in five people lost their jobs because so many buildings were destroyed
• A large number of bodies meant that diseases especially cholera became a serious problem
• it was difficult getting aid into the area because of damage to the main port and airport
• landslides blocked roads

Question 11

short term response to the earthquake in Haiti

Answer 11

• $100 million in aid given by the USA and $330 million by the European union
• 810,000 people placed in aid camps
• 115,000 tents and over 1 million tarpaulin shelters provided
• 4.3 million people provided with food rations in the weeks following the earthquake

Question 12

long-term response to the earthquake in Haiti

Answer 12

• support for people without jobs which was nearly 70% of the population through cash/food for work projects
• temporary schools created and new teachers trained