tectonics kq3 - how to deal with EQs Flashcards
land use regulation
DESC: Governments may implement laws that does not allow
developments in areas prone to damage during an
earthquake/tsunami.
across fault lines,
PRO: reduces the number of people and properties at high risk areas
less people will be
affected when a tsunami or
earthquake strikes, lesser deaths and injuries.
CON: done to existing
Buildings = may have xtra costs involved = continues to be at risk of deaths and injuries.
2. Densely built up countires may be short on land = buildings would still have to be built on high risk areas = risky
infrastructure and building design
DESC: advanced engineering to help
infrastructure and buildings to withstand the vibration of
earthquakes –> buildings equipped with steel bars, base isolators that absorb tremors of EQ
PRO: Buildings can withstand shaking better/less chance of buildings catching on fire
⇩
Reduces collapse
⇩
More chance of rescuers to rescue more surviviors
⇩
Less chance of people getting buried in debris
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Lower death toll and damage
CON:
High costs (espescially in LDCs) = some buildings in the city
continues to be easily damaged by earthquakes =
posing a risk to its citizens for injuries and deaths.
emergency drills/public education
DESC: Emergency drills are practices to
prepare people for an emergency –>
Earthquake/tsunami drills are often
conducted by the government.
- Scenarios of earthquake and/or
tsunami are regularly rehearsed with
the people of the country through
emergency drills.
PRO: Ensures that people will not panic during an emergency and knows what needs to be done to reduce risks.= less people getting injured or
die
- people aware of what procedures to carry out to protect infrastructure (eg turning off gas tap, stoves before evacuating) = lesser chance of fires happening = less damage
CON:
1) May not have sufficient time during an actual
earthquake/tsunami to evacuate.
2) People may forget what they have practised during the drill (would still be scared in the real EQ)
3) Tends to be based on most recent serious earthquake/tsunami = may not be effective in other earthquake/tsunamis = people to still be in high risk areas = further deaths and injuries.
EQ and tsunami monitoring
DESC: If there is a risk of earthquake or
Tsunami (detect movement along fault lines) - warning systems will alert people to take precautions, such as to evacuate immediately.
Earthquake monitoring:
sensors are installed in earthquake- prone zones to monitor for vibrations → suggest if earthquake may happen
soon.
PRO: Ensures that people will
not be at areas that will
be impacted by
earthquakes/ tsunamis,
= reducing deaths
and injuries
CON:
1. Can be expensive to install
and maintain = cannot be afforded by all may not be implemented
by many OR country cannot afford its maintenance = may not be able to function correctly = may
not be able to warn people
of an impending disaster = unable to prevent
deaths and injuries.
- Earthquakes are hard to
predict accurately = too
little time to react after the
warning is issued →
earthquakes may occur
without any warnings being
sounded out at all = unable to prevent deaths and injuries
search and rescue (short term response)
DESC: Government agencies, such as the
military and civil defence forces,
converge at places affected by
earthquake = search and rescue survivors strapped in rubbles or debris,
PRO: in collapsed buildings.
if these survivors are not rescued in
time, without medical attention, food
and water for weeks, they will then die.
CON: Effective in preventing death for only a short period of time, usually within a few days after the earthquake struck = Beyond that, the chances of anyone surviving while trapped in the rubble is very little.
DESC: Survivors are treated by medical staff = provided with drinking water
and food so that they will not be using
unclean sources that will spread
diseases/ temporary shelters are setup to ensure that they have a safe place to
rest in.
PRO: Allows survivors to continue with their lives immediately with an acceptable standard of living and hygiene. If not,
survivors may not have enough food,
water, and medical attention to met
their basic needs, or depend on tainted
sources that spreads diseases. Thus,
further injuries and deaths are
prevented.
CON: Some governments are not well-
prepared, or unable to afford sufficient
resources for such teams to attend to
the survivors of the
earthquake/tsunami = unable to meet the needs of the survivors = further injuries and deaths due to social
unrests.
rebuilding of infrastructure (long term responses)
DESC: infrastructure and buildings damaged by earthquakes and/or tsunamis are rebuilt = rebuilt based on new
laws or requirements that will ensure
that it is earthquake proof e.g.
reinforced buildings.
PROS:
- Prevents injuries and deaths in
future earthquakes.
- Helps return survivors’ life to pre-
disaster days.
CONS
High costs. Some building owners may
not be able to afford to comply with
such measures. As a result, some
buildings in the city continues to be
easily damaged by earthquakes, posing
a risk to its citizens for injuries and
deaths.
provision of healthcare (long term response)
DESC: Provision of healthcare for treatments
that require long-term recovery, such as
long-term counselling to help survivors
cope with the trauma of the earthquake.
PRO: Prevents further deaths caused by
suicide and depression.
CON: Long-term recovery from trauma can take many years to work, with limited success. Hence, despite treatment, some survivors may still have poor mental health, and even be driven to suicide.
