Risk Management:
Reducing risk of earthquakes:
● Monitoring and prediction
○ It is possible to predict the general location where the earthquake might take place
■ But difficult to predict date, time and exact location
○ Seismologists use radon detection devices → measure radon gas in soil and groundwater
○ Seismometers used to measure tremors/foreshocks (before the main earthquake)
○ Earthquake locations are mapped out to spot patterns and help predict when next earthquake will
occur
○ Phones have GPS that detect movement in the ground → can send out warnings
○ Animals act strangely when an earthquake is impending
● Protection
○ Buildings made of brick or no reinforcement collapse easily
■ Mitigation = designing buildings/strengthening infrastructure to withstand earthquakes
■ Mitigation provides protection
● Ensures that less people are injured/killed
○ Earthquake-proof buildings are very expensive → makes it difficult to adapt existing buildings
■ Building may still need to be repaired/rebuilt
● Planning
○ Planning helps authorities, emergency services and individuals to act quickly → less chaos/fewer
injuries
■ Furniture and objects are fastened down → don’t topple over
■ Residents learn how to switch off main gas, electricity and water supplies
■ Preparing emergency aid supplies for easy access → saves lives
● How they would be distributed
● Where evacuation centres are located
● Distribution of food, water, medicine, shelter
■ eg/ Japan
● 1st September every year = Japanese national training day for earthquakes
● Earthquake drills prepare people for an earthquake at any time
■ American Red Cross provides an earthquake safety checklist
● Allows people to plan/prepare for earthquakes at home/work/school