Preparedness Measures

Land Use Regulation

EQ Resilient Infrastructures

Emergency Drills

Use of Technology

Pros:

  • Reduce collapse of buildings and minimises damages
  • reduce shaking in EQ
  • lower death rate
  • structurally sound

Pros:

  • demarcate into high, medium, low risk zones
  • do not place skyscrapers/ impt economic activity in high risk zones
  • put recreational facilities(parks, leisure activity)
  • prevents collapse of building
  • lower pop density (less death)

Cons:

  • may prevent growth of city (not feasible in small cities)
  • high cost of buying over land
  • strong govt enforcement to buy land frm unwilling sellers
  • ❌ suitable for LDC (lack strong enforcement)

Cons:

  • EX (oni DC)
  • untested till EQ event
  • not cost effective to retrofit existing buildings
  • cld have higher magnitude of EQ than prepared for

Damping Devices

  • act as shock absorbers that absorbs seismic energy in an EQ
  • act as counterweights which moves in opp direction to motion of quake, minimises swaying & colllapsing

Base isolation pad

  • allow more flexible movement of building
  • sways side to side in EQ

Reinforcement of infrastructure

Pros:

  • trip switches @ homes, offices
  • during EQ, liquefaction occurs, gas pipes to break
  • switch turns off gas
  • prevents outbreak of fire

Cons:

  • EX tech may not be feasible if electricity and gas network is not well organised
  • regular maintenance to upkeep
  • short time for response
  • chance of tech failure

Pros:

  • awareness about how to respond to EQ
  • reduces panic, chaos, orderly and timely evacuation (will not block evacuation routes)
  • how to carry out first aid, treat victims in critical period b4 rescue arrive (lightens load of work on emergency workers)
  • complacent (dont take srsly)

Cons:

  • Scenario/magnitude may be diff frm what was practised (e.g. occurrence of tsunami, multiple aftershocks)
  • DC have more funding, expertise to organise large scale drills

Seismic risk maps

EQ sensor

Tsunami monitoring systems

Cons::

  • Oni in DC
  • costly, strong communication
  • subjected to interference, false alarm
  • little time for response