Geological Hazards and Emergency Responses PDF

Geological Hazards and Emergency Responses Geological hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides, pose significant threats to communities around the world. Effective emergency response protocols and community engagement are crucial to mitigating the risks and impacts of these...

Geological Hazards and Emergency Responses Geological hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides, pose significant threats to communities around the world. Effective emergency response protocols and community engagement are crucial to mitigating the risks and impacts of these natural disasters. preencoded.png Types of Geological Hazards Earthquakes Volcanic Eruptions Sudden and unpredictable Explosive or effusive release movements of the Earth's of molten rock, ash, and tectonic plates, causing gases from a volcanic vent, severe shaking and potential posing a threat to nearby structural damage. populations. Landslides Sinkholes Downslope movement of soil, Sudden collapse of the rock, and debris, often ground, caused by the triggered by heavy rainfall or dissolution of underlying rock earthquakes, endangering or the failure of supporting nearby areas. structures, creating hazardous depressions. preencoded.png Earthquakes 1 Causes Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of built-up tectonic stress in the Earth's crust, often along fault lines where plates meet and grind against each other. 2 Effects Earthquakes can lead to widespread destruction, including building collapses, infrastructure damage, fires, and landslides. They can also trigger tsunamis, which can devastate coastal regions. 3 Preparedness Earthquake-prone regions should implement robust building codes, early warning systems, and emergency response plans to minimize loss of life and property damage. preencoded.png Earthquakes 1 Onset Sudden and unpredictable movement of the Earth's tectonic plates, causing intense shaking and vibrations. 2 Structural Damage Buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure can be severely compromised, leading to potential collapse and loss of life. 3 Aftershocks Smaller earthquakes that continue to occur after the main event, adding to the instability and risk of further damage. preencoded.png Volcanic Eruptions Causes Impacts Volcanic eruptions are caused by the movement of Volcanic eruptions can have devastating impacts, molten rock, or magma, within the Earth's crust. As including ash fall, lava flows, pyroclastic density magma rises and encounters weaknesses in the Earth's currents, and lahars (mudflows). These can destroy surface, it can break through, leading to an eruption. buildings, infrastructure, and agriculture, and pose serious threats to human health and safety. Monitoring and Forecasting Mitigation Strategies Advances in geophysical monitoring and data analysis Proactive measures such as land-use planning, have improved the ability to detect signs of impending building reinforcement, and the development of volcanic activity and provide early warnings to nearby emergency response protocols can help mitigate the communities, allowing for timely evacuations and impacts of volcanic eruptions and protect vulnerable emergency response. populations. preencoded.png Volcanic Eruptions Ash and Debris Lava Flows Toxic Gases Volcanic eruptions can eject Molten rock can pour out of the Volcanic eruptions can release massive amounts of ash, rock, and volcanic vent, moving quickly and various toxic gases, such as sulfur other debris, which can blanket the destroying everything in its path, dioxide and carbon dioxide, which surrounding area and pose a including buildings, infrastructure, can be harmful to human health and significant hazard to nearby and vegetation. the environment. populations. preencoded.png Landslides 1 Causes 2 Impacts Landslides are often triggered by heavy rainfall, Landslides can destroy buildings, infrastructure, and earthquakes, or human activities like deforestation communication lines, and can also block and construction on steep slopes, which can transportation routes and disrupt access to destabilize the ground and lead to rapid downslope essential services. They can also cause significant movement of soil, rock, and debris. loss of life and long-term environmental damage. 3 Monitoring and Early Warning 4 Mitigation Strategies Advances in remote sensing, slope monitoring, and Strategies to mitigate landslide risks include weather forecasting have improved the ability to improved land-use planning, slope stabilization detect and predict landslide risks, allowing for the techniques, and the development of emergency implementation of early warning systems and the response protocols, as well as public education and evacuation of vulnerable populations. community engagement. preencoded.png Landslides 1 Soil Saturation Heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt can oversaturate the soil, reducing its stability and increasing the risk of landslides. 2 Slope Failure The weight of the saturated soil and debris can cause the slope to fail, triggering a rapid downward movement of material. 3 Destruction Landslides can demolish buildings, roads, and other infrastructure in their path, posing a serious threat to nearby communities. preencoded.png Sinkholes Mapping and Construction Emergency Response Public Awareness Monitoring Practices Developing and regularly Educating the public about Detailed geological surveys Responsible construction practicing emergency the causes and risks of and mapping of areas practices, such as proper response protocols, sinkholes, as well as the prone to sinkhole formation drainage systems and soil including evacuation plans appropriate response are essential for identifying stabilization techniques, and rescue operations, can measures, can empower high-risk zones and can help prevent the help minimize the impact of communities to be better implementing proactive formation of sinkholes and sudden sinkhole formation prepared and resilient in monitoring and mitigation minimize the risk to and ensure the safety of the face of these strategies. buildings and affected communities. geological hazards. infrastructure. preencoded.png Sinkholes Water Erosion Groundwater and surface water can gradually dissolve the underlying rock, leading to the formation of sinkholes. Construction Disruption Improper construction or excavation activities can disrupt the stability of the ground, causing sinkholes to appear. Seismic Activity Earthquakes and other seismic events can trigger the sudden collapse of the ground, creating sinkholes. preencoded.png Preparedness and Mitigation Mitigation Strategies 1 Emergency Planning 2 Infrastructure Developing Resilience comprehensive Strengthening buildings, emergency response bridges, and other critical plans and training infrastructure to withstand community members on the impacts of geological appropriate actions to hazards. take. 3 Land-Use Management Implementing zoning and building codes to restrict development in high-risk areas and promote safer land-use practices. preencoded.png Emergency Response Protocols Rapid Damage Assessment Deploying teams to quickly evaluate the extent of damage and identify critical needs in affected areas. Search and Rescue Coordinating search and rescue operations to locate and evacuate trapped or injured individuals. Medical Response Providing emergency medical care, setting up field hospitals, and ensuring the availability of essential supplies and equipment. Restoration of Essential Services Prioritizing the restoration of critical infrastructure, such as water, electricity, and communication networks, to enable recovery and relief efforts. Sheltering and Humanitarian Aid Establishing temporary shelters, distributing food, water, and other essential supplies, and coordinating the provision of humanitarian assistance. preencoded.png Community Engagement and Education Collaborative Planning Public Education Capacity Building Engaging local communities in the Implementing comprehensive public Providing training and resources to development of preparedness and education programs, targeting both build the capacity of local emergency response plans, and youth and adults, can increase communities to respond effectively incorporating their knowledge and awareness of geological hazards, to geological hazards, including first perspectives, can foster a sense of promote household preparedness, aid, search and rescue, and ownership and resilience. and empower communities to take emergency management skills, can proactive measures. enhance resilience. preencoded.png Case Studies: Lessons Learned 1 The 2010 Haiti Earthquake 2 The 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami The devastating earthquake in Haiti highlighted the importance of improving building codes, The tsunami triggered by the Tōhoku earthquake in strengthening critical infrastructure, and enhancing Japan demonstrated the need for comprehensive early disaster preparedness and response capabilities to warning systems, well-designed coastal defenses, and mitigate the impacts of future events. effective evacuation protocols to protect vulnerable communities. 3 The 2018 Sulawesi Earthquake and 4 The 2022 Flooding in Pakistan Tsunami The devastating floods in Pakistan highlighted the The Sulawesi disaster in Indonesia underscored the critical role of climate change adaptation, significance of community engagement, public sustainable land-use planning, and integrated awareness, and coordinated international assistance in disaster risk management in building resilient responding to complex geological emergencies. communities. preencoded.png THANK YOU DEMOL, AYESSA GABRIELLE BUHAY, LEI ARMAN M. FAJARDO, CHRISTOPHER DANIEL D. PERIDO, EIRO JADE V. SUNGA, LAWRENCE B. preencoded.png