Earthquake Disaster Management PDF

Disaster Management and Control of Earthquake Earthquake : An earthquake is when the ground shakes suddenly and strongly. This happens because rocks under the Earth's surface move and release energy. The shaking can be small and barely noticeable, or it can be very strong and cause damage. It happen...

Disaster Management and Control of Earthquake Earthquake : An earthquake is when the ground shakes suddenly and strongly. This happens because rocks under the Earth's surface move and release energy. The shaking can be small and barely noticeable, or it can be very strong and cause damage. It happens along cracks in the Earth's outer layer, called faults. Causes of Earthquakes 1. Tectonic plates movement : The Earth's outer layer is made up of big pieces called tectonic plates. These plates are always moving because of heat under the surface. Earthquakes usually happen where these plates meet. When two plates move towards each other, One plate can get pushed under the other, or the plates can crash into each other. Plates move away from each other causing stress in the earth's crust and leading to earthquake. 2. Volcanic Activity : Earthquakes can happen near volcanoes when magma moves up through cracks in the Earth's crust. This movement can cause rocks to break and create seismic waves. These earthquakes often happen before, during, or after a volcanic eruption. Examples include earthquakes around Mount St. Helens and Mount Fuji. 3. Human activities can also cause earthquakes: (i) Mining: Underground mining can shift the Earth's crust, causing small earthquakes. (ii) Reservoir-Induced Seismicity: Filling large reservoirs behind dams can increase pressure on rocks, triggering earthquakes. For example, the 1967 earthquake in India was linked to the Koynanagar Dam. (iii) Fracking: Injecting fluids into the ground to extract oil or gas can cause small earthquakes, especially near fault lines. (iv) Geothermal Energy: Pumping fluids into hot rock formations for geothermal energy can sometimes trigger seismic activity. Social Impacts of Earthquakes: 1. Loss of Life and Injuries: Earthquakes can cause buildings to collapse, roads to break, and people to get trapped, leading to many deaths and injuries. The emotional pain for families can be huge. 2. Displacement of People: Many people lose their homes and are forced to live in shelters. In some cases, entire communities may be displaced, causing long-term homelessness and putting pressure on nearby areas to help. 3. Mental Health Strain: The trauma of losing loved ones, homes, and livelihoods can lead to serious mental health issues, like depression, and anxiety, which may affect survivors for years. 4. Disruption of Daily Life: Earthquakes can stop people from getting food, water, education, and healthcare. Important buildings like schools and hospitals might be damaged, causing long-term problems. 5. Social Fragmentation: After an earthquake, people may fight over scarce resources like food and water. The breakdown of social order can lead to more crime or conflicts. 6. Impact on Education: Earthquakes can damage schools, causing children to miss classes for a long time, which can affect their education, especially if schools take a long time to rebuild Economic Impacts of Earthquakes: 1. Destruction of Infrastructure: Earthquakes can destroy roads, bridges, airports, power plants, and communication networks. Rebuilding these can be very expensive and take many years. 2. Property Damage: Homes, businesses, and factories can be damaged or destroyed, leading to huge financial losses, especially in cities. 3. Business Disruptions: Earthquakes can stop businesses from operating, causing inventory loss, infrastructure damage, and job cuts. This affects productivity and can lead to bankruptcies. 4. Cost of Relief and Recovery: Governments and aid groups need to spend a lot of money on rescue, relief, medical care, and rebuilding, putting a strain on public funds. 5. Agricultural Losses: Earthquakes can destroy farmland, irrigation systems, and livestock, leading to food shortages and hurting the economy, especially in rural areas. 6. Long-Term Economic Decline: In badly affected areas, it can take years for the economy to recover. Many businesses may close, and rebuilding can be slow, especially in poorer regions. Environmental Impacts of Earthquakes: 1. Damage to Ecosystems: Earthquakes can harm ecosystems by causing landslides, floods, or tsunamis. This can destroy forests, wetlands, and marine life, affecting animals and plants. 2. Landslides and Ground Rupture: Earthquakes can trigger landslides, burying villages and blocking roads. They can also cause cracks in the ground, changing the landscape. 3. Pollution: Earthquakes can damage pipelines and factories, spilling dangerous chemicals into the environment, which harms water, soil, and air quality. 4. Alteration of Water Systems: Earthquakes can change the flow of rivers or create new lakes, affecting water supply, farming, and ecosystems that rely on water. 5. Impact on Wildlife: Animals may be killed or displaced due to habitat destruction, and they may struggle to adapt to the changed environment. This can harm local wildlife populations.  Disaster Management and Control of Earthquake Disaster management is the organized process of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. It includes strategies and plans to reduce the impact on people, property, and the environment. The goal is to save lives, protect infrastructure, and help communities recover quickly. ❖ Four important steps or phases of disaster management are : ❖1. Preparedness ❖2. Response ❖3. Recovery ❖4. Mitigation 1. Preparedness (Before the Earthquake): Preparedness is about planning and being ready for a quick, effective response when an earthquake happens. a) Emergency Plans: Governments and organizations should create clear plans for evacuation, medical care, and repairs. These plans should also assign specific roles to emergency responders, volunteers, and communities. b) Stockpiling Supplies: Essential items like food, water, medical supplies, and blankets should be stored in schools, hospitals, and community centers to ensure access if infrastructure is damaged. c) Training First Responders: Emergency teams like firefighters, paramedics, and military personnel need proper training and equipment to respond quickly and effectively after an earthquake. 2. Response (During the Earthquake): Response efforts focus on immediate actions taken to save lives and reduce further harm during the earthquake. a) Evacuation and Shelter:Quickly evacuating people from dangerous areas and providing safe shelters is essential. Designated safe zones (e.g., parks or open spaces) and emergency shelters must be available. b) Search and Rescue:After the earthquake, teams of trained search and rescue personnel are deployed to locate and rescue survivors trapped under debris. This process can be extremely dangerous, requiring special equipment and careful coordination. c) Medical Assistance:Immediate medical care is crucial for treating the injured, managing trauma, and preventing disease outbreaks. Hospitals and makeshift field clinics should be set up, and emergency medical teams must be prepared to handle mass casualties. d) Communication:Maintaining clear and effective communication is vital. Emergency services, government authorities, and the public need to stay informed about the situation, evacuation routes, and ongoing rescue efforts. This includes using radios, satellite phones, and other means of communication if traditional networks are down.  Disaster Management and Control of Earthquake 3. Recovery (After the Earthquake): Recovery is about restoring normal life and rebuilding affected areas. It can take weeks, months, or years, depending on the earthquake’s severity. a) Damage Assessment and Restoration: Evaluate the damage to buildings and infrastructure to decide which areas need immediate repair. Emergency funds should be used for reconstruction in the hardest-hit areas. b) Psychosocial Support: Provide counseling and support for survivors to help them deal with trauma, stress, and loss. This support is also important for children, families, and first responders. c) Rebuilding and Reconstruction: Rebuild infrastructure to be stronger and more earthquake-resistant, including homes, schools, and hospitals, to reduce future risks. d) Long-Term Development and Community Recovery: Focus on rebuilding the community, supporting local businesses, and helping people recover their livelihoods. This includes assisting farmers and industries to get back to work.  Disaster Management and Control of Earthquake 4. Mitigation (long term measures): a) Mitigation aims to reduce the impact of earthquakes by addressing risks ahead of time. b) Building Codes and Regulations: Buildings and infrastructure should be designed to withstand earthquakes. This includes making them stronger and more flexible. c) Land Use Planning: Avoid building in risky areas like fault lines, unstable ground, or coastal zones prone to tsunamis. d) Public Awareness and Education:Teach people how to prepare for earthquakes, use evacuation routes, and perform first aid.Hold regular drills in schools, workplaces, and communities to practice safety steps like “drop, cover, and hold-on” and evacuating safely. e) Seismic Hazard Mapping:Create maps that show areas at high risk of earthquakes to help plan where to strengthen buildings and infrastructure. f) Earthquake Early Warning Systems (EEWS):Develop systems that can warn people a few seconds or minutes before shaking starts. This allows time to take safety actions like stopping trains or shutting down factories.