Earthy Disasters: Earthquakes

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Nature has always been the most caring lover of mankind – providing sustenance for basic needs in life – yet all the more, the most lethal nemesis since the beginning of time. Water, wind, fire and earth – all of the four natural elements are merciless in times of disaster, with man, more often than not, as major casualties. Mother Earth is a caring and benevolent provider yet a dangerously unpredictable punisher. Among the worst phenomena to occur are earthquakes, wild movement of the earth’s crust which can be so tremendously destructive that it’s hard to imagine they happen by the thousands every day around the world, usually in the form of small tremors that most humans do not notice or feel at all. By origin, earthquakes almost always occur at fault zones, where tectonic plates—giant rock slabs that make up the Earth's upper layer—collide or slide against each other. Impacts are usually gradual and unnoticeable on the surface but when immense stress builds up between plates, it sends massive vibrations in the crust - seismic waves – to great distances through all layers of rock and up to the surface of the earth. Other quakes happen far from faults zones when plates are stretched or squeezed. Don’t be Afraid, Be Prepared! Earthquakes are commonplace in our world, especially severe in those places enclosed in the geographically Pacific Ring of Fire. Unlike its name, the Ring of Fire isn’t circular, but shaped rather like a 40,000-kilometer (25,000-mile) horseshoe. A string of 452 volcanoes stretches from the southern tip of South America, up along the coast of North America, across the Bering Strait, down through Japan, and into New Zealand. Each year, locals have to be wary and careful of any active volcanic activity in this area as this incite earthquakes that are destructive, with at times, a Domino Effect (faults getting affected by each other’s movement). Earthquakes’ strength are of a magnitude rating based on the duration of their seismic waves. The light and minor tremors are 3 to 5; 5 to 7 is moderate to strong; 7 to 8 is major; and 8 or more incurs the greatest damage and threat. The strongest earthquakes that occur can result in ground rupture, causing damage to bridges, dams, roads, railroad tracks, and the foundations of buildings. They can also cause landslides and avalanches as a result of the shaking. As a matter of fact, many places struck with earthquakes as severe as 7.2 – 9 magnitudes have deep holes in the ground after the disaster. Knowing and understanding the grave effects of earthquakes, it is important to lean by the side of caution. While it is not preventable by nature, man can help lessen the damage to life when he exercises the most care before, during and after the disaster. Before: 1. Check and improve your home’s foundation in resilience to damage. Fix furniture to the walls to prevent it from falling when earthquakes occur. Make sure that fragile objects are kept safe inside secure compartments. See to it that your house has another door other than the entrance (back doors should be known by all members of the family) for the times when you need to vacate the house. 2. Prepare all essentials – especially food and safety kits – and store them securely. For identification purposes, Always carry a card with your name, address and phone number as well as information on your blood type and contact numbers for your relatives, friends, workplace and embassy. This is important when you are separated from your family during the disaster. 3. Participate in disaster training Know exactly nearby evacuation sites, such as schools or parks. Participate in community disaster drills as often as possible. 4. Discuss disaster preparedness with your family Determine how to contact family members and friends or where to gather after a disaster to ensure you can meet up. As much as possible, do not lose touch with one another. During: 5. Do not drive – or if you are, stop the vehicle immediately and assess the situation with your car radio. Should you need to take shelter, leave the key in the ignition and the door unlocked – bring with you all necessary papers and belongings. 6. When you are on the roads, avoid buildings and tall structures like trees and power lines and find something to protect your head with. 7. Do not go near bodies of water. Earthquakes can cause tsunamis – dauntingly high sea waves caused by an underwater movement of the crust – displacing the ocean water. Stay away from the shore until all tsunami alerts and warnings are lifted. After: 8. Make sure that your family and friends are safe and watch out for aftershocks. Stay away from houses that have started to collapse or collapsed already. Go to evacuation shelters where the government can be able to help the victims better. Secure your supplies – food and other basic necessities. 9. Help one another in the aftermath – with rescue and relief situations. Tend to the ignored and comfort the ones whose members have died. 10. Stay informed of what happening in your area after the disaster. Though it is not easy to do so after suffering trauma, gradually work towards getting things back to normal. Help yourself to recover from the incident. Natural disasters are not, with assurance, preventable but with enough efforts for ensuring that all precautions are made, the governments with its citizens shall reduce the amount of damage that would incur.