Assume tap water is contaminated until told otherwise--and don't use plumbing (toilets, disposals, drains) until told that sewer lines are intact.
Don't eat any food that's near broken glass.
Unless you have an emergency, avoid using the telephone. Cellular phones can be very useful; they were used extensively after the San Francisco quake when conventional lines were inundated.
If you live near the ocean, listen for tsunami warnings.
After the quake (cont.)
Quakes of the past
--Copyright
1991
Asymetrix Corporation
gives you permission
e, revise
reuse the
--individual
scripts
your own
--applications.
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x, however,
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retains
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notice "Portions
are
they
--contain
copied
--The idea
8comes
--Catherine Fletcher, a former Californian who has survived several
--earthquakes.
--Written
HNanette Wright. Screen design
HMelody Christensen.
--Thanks
Tom Arnold, Jeff Day, Brad Gaub, Chad Rancourt.
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whiteFactor
Minor damage; distant earthquakes may cause damage
to structures; corresponds to intensities V and VI
of the Mercalli Scale.
celadonFactor
Moderate damage; corresponds to intensity VII
of the Mercalli Scale.
tealFactor
Major damage; corresponds to intensity VIII
and higher of the Mercalli Scale.
window
An earthquake can shake the glass right out of a window,
and some codes for building highrises require that windows fall
inward. After the quake, watch out for glass splinters in open
containers and cups.
table
When the shaking starts, duck under a sturdy table or desk.
If the tremors are severe enough, the desk itself might hop or
slide. You can also brace yourself in a doorway or between the
walls of a hall.
pinkChair
Any furniture on wheels or casters is likely to move when
the earth shakes. Even refrigerators have been known to skid
across the floor during an earthquake.
fileCabinet
Top-heavy furniture like file cabinets are very likely to tip
over during an earthquake. In fact, this cabinet looks like it
would fall on the chair and its occupant. If you can, bolt the
cabinet to the wall. Keep file drawers
locked to prevent drawers from opening and spilling their contents.
Heavy hanging objects like mirrors need extra support
to stay attached to the wall during shaking. Hanging wires can stretch and
break if a heavy gauge isn't used. Framed pictures
should be attached to studs on both sides, and mounting hooks
should be squeezed closed.
books
Objects placed atop cabinets or on high shelves will fall
during an earthquake. Store heavy objects and caustic chemicals close
to the ground.
Place thin wire across the front of shelves to help
hold books and objects in place. Line shelves with nonskid padded
matting to keep breakables from sliding.
plant
Anything suspended from the ceiling can
swing and fall in a quake. In fact, most earthquake-related
injuries occur when falling objects strike people below.
A plant hung from the ceiling should
be placed away from your desk and chair. If it swings against the
wall, will the container it's in break?
computer
If you duck under your desk during an earthquake, watch
out for heavy objects on top
like computer equipment, which can fall. Also, it's
not uncommon for quakes to start fires or cause electrical problems,
so be careful of the machinery in your office.
pencils
Any loose objects sitting on a desk can become dangerous
missiles during an earthquake. Decrease the risk by storing
pencils and other paraphenalia in drawers.
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:PHYSSIZE
Safety in the office
Safety in the office
Rocky Tremors
Rocky Tremors
intro
Office of the 90's
Click the objects to learn how to secure your office and improve your odds of safely surviving an earthquake.cure your office and improve your odds of safely surviving an earthquake.an earthquake.
Office of the 90's
pageOfficeSection
Case study: Bay Area
Earthquake design
Damage from quakes
quake
Office Section
Before the quake
Office of the 90's
After the quake
Contents
B"introduction"
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Bibliography
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4the quake"
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before the quake
Before the quake
"during the quake"
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during the quake
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"After the quake"
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After the quake
After the quake
"Predicting the future"
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Predicting the future
Predicting the future
group 2
"Earthquake design"
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Earthquake design
Earthquake design
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quaking buildings
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case study: bay area
Case study: Bay Area
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measuring quakes
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Quakes of the past
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earthquakes in history
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introduction
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Introduction
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Earthquakes in history
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Are office buildings safe?
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What should you do?
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Earthquake quiz
Contents6)
Contents
bibliography
Introduction
uld you do?
What should you do?
"The Atlantic Gulf coast
relatively stable, geologically"\
& " speaking. No major quakes have been recorded
area."
rockies
rugged mountains
deep troughs
the Basin
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" Province stretch east
west
Utah's"\
& " Wasatch
MSierra Nevadas,
north
south"\
& "
central Idaho through New Mexico, Arizona,
& " Faults throughout
& "
are responsible
xonly
earthquakes, but also
the"\
& " geysers
hot springs
)Yellowstone National Park."
california
"After San Francisco's 1989
, scientists"\
& " predicted a chance
%great
%60% that a similar-sized
would"\
& " occur within
t30 years
Further inland,
& " westward-drifting crust
continental interior collides
& "
Sierras, generating more
Mono Lake-Long"\
& " Valley region."
pacificnw
"Drifting tectonic plates off
squeezing
Pacific Northwest coastline. Scientists
a giant
&" a magnitude
greater will
here
t300
&" Subduction
Juan de Fuca
beneath
&" has
kept
Cascade's volcanos like St. Helens supplied"\
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alaska
largest
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&" was
Good Friday
Anchorage, 1964, which measured"\
&" 9.2 on
Richter Scale. Alaska sits on a subduction zone,"\
&" where
crustal
slides
another."
hawaii
"With many
frequent tremors,
Hawaiian islands"\
volatile. They
part
a huge undersea
range formed
violent intersection"\
American
Asian
southeast
"In August
1886,
apparent fault
South"\
& " Carolina lowlands caused
shook"\
& " Charleston
crumbled
city's
historic buildings
& " mansions. Tremors were felt across
eastern US, demonstrating
& " potential
widespread devastation should
strike
midwest
formations
& "
iddled
ffaults,
entire Midwest acts"\
& "
a continuous slab
material
shaken. A
whose"\
& " epicenter
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example,
transmit its"\
& " seismic energy
fa hundred times
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& " along
West Coast.
damage
severe."
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1755
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& "
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Ottawa
Boston.
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& "
England
be underestimated."
newMadrid
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Missouri slipped
1990,
& " resulting
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& "
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& "
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& " California
strict
codes. A serious
& "
Mississippi
disastrous
far-flung effects."
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hawaii
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midwest
pacificnw
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newMadrid
The Atlantic Gulf coast is relatively stable, geologically
speaking. No major quakes have been recorded in this area.
rockies
The rugged mountains and deep troughs of the Basin and Range
Province stretch east to west from Utah's
Wasatch Range to the Sierra Nevadas, and north to south
from central Idaho through New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico.
Faults throughout this geologically active area continue to move
and are responsible not only for earthquakes, but also for the
geysers and hot springs at Yellowstone National Park.
california
After San Francisco's 1989 earthquake, scientists
predicted a chance as great as 60% that a similar-sized quake would
occur within the next 30 years in the area. Further inland, the
westward-drifting crust of the continental interior collides with
the Sierras, generating more earthquakes in the Mono Lake-Long
Valley region.
pacificnw
Drifting tectonic plates off the coast are squeezing the
Pacific Northwest coastline. Scientists predict a giant quake with
a magnitude of 9 or greater will occur here in the next 300 years.
Subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate beneath the Pacific Northwest
has also kept the Cascade's volcanos like St. Helens supplied
with fresh magma.
alaska
The largest recorded earthquake in the United States
was the Good Friday quake in Anchorage, 1964, which measured
9.2 on the Richter Scale. Alaska sits on a subduction zone,
where one crustal plate slides beneath another.
hawaii
With many volcanos and frequent tremors, the Hawaiian islands
are geologically volatile. They are part of a huge undersea mountain range formed from the violent intersection
of the North American and Asian plates.
southeast
In August of 1886, an apparent fault beneath the South
Carolina lowlands caused an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 that shook
Charleston and crumbled the city's many historic buildings and
mansions. Tremors were felt across the eastern US, demonstrating the
potential for widespread devastation should another quake strike here.
midwest
The major rock formations that make up the North American
continent are riddled with faults, and the entire Midwest acts
like a continuous slab of material when shaken. A quake whose
epicenter was in Kansas City, for example, would transmit its
seismic energy with a hundred times more efficiency than a quake
along the West Coast. The potential for damage in the Midwest is severe.
northeast
The Cape Ann quake of 1755 is one of three worst quakes
known to have occurred in the US east of the Rockies. Scientists
speculate that an unseen instability in the crust is responsible
for a series of quakes from Ottawa to Boston. The risk of a quake
is New England is not to be underestimated.
newMadrid
When the fault beneath Missouri slipped again in 1990, the
resulting magnitude 4.5 earthquake reminded residents of their
risk. Before the quake struck, communities in the midwest had
been slow to recognize the threat and take countermeasures as
California has with its strict building codes. A serious tremor
in the Mississippi Valley would have disastrous and far-flung effects.
Introduction
Introduction
This book provides some historical perspective on earthquakes, touches on today's quake-proof construction methods, and tells you what you can do to prepare for an earthquake.
bibliography
kinson, William. The Next New Madrid Earthquake: A Survival Guide for the Midwest, Southern Illinois University Press, 1989.
Bolton, Patricia A. "Earthquake awareness, preparedness, and mitigation," USGS Proceedings of Conference XXXIII: A Workshop on Earthquake Hazards in the Puget Sound, 23-25 October 1985, Seattle, WA: USGS, 1985.
Cooper, F.D. "The prediction no one wants to hear: the great quake," Emergency Preparedness Digest, April-June 1990.
Harris, Stephen L. Agents of Chaos, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Co., 1990.
Nance, John J. On Shaky Ground: America's Earthquake Alert, New York: William Morrow & Co., 1988.
"Quake Part I," Sunset Magazine, October 1990.
"Quake Part II," Sunset Magazine, November 1990.
ness, and Mitigation" in above doc. by Patricia A. Bolton
William Atkinson, The Next New Madrid Earthqyake: A survival Guide for the Midwest, Southern Illinois University Press, 1989
Emergency Preparedness Digest, Vol. 18, No. 2, Apr-June 1991. Published by Emergency Preparedness Canada. "Modern Problems...Highrise Emergencies" by Brett W. Mann.
Atkinson, William. The Next New Madrid Earthquake: A Survival Guide for the Midwest, Southern Illinois University Press, 1989.
Bolton, Patricia A. "Earthquake awareness, preparedness, and mitigation," USGS Proceedings of Conference XXXIII: A Workshop on Earthquake Hazards in the Puget Sound, 23-25 October 1985, Seattle, WA: USGS, 1985.
Cooper, F.D. "The prediction no one wants to hear: the great quake," Emergency Preparedness Digest, April-June 1990.
Harris, Stephen L. Agents of Chaos, Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Co., 1990.
Nance, John J. On Shaky Ground: America's Earthquake Alert, New York: William Morrow & Co., 1988.
"Quake Part I," Sunset Magazine, October 1990.
"Quake Part II," Sunset Magazine, November 1990.
Wood, Dr. Robert Muir. Earthquakes and Volcanoes, New York: Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1987.... & Co., 1988.
Bibliographys"\
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Quaking buildings
are office buildings safe?
earthquakes in history
What's your risk?
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alaska
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Alaska
Anchorage
Key to risk of damage
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Mississippi
Texas
Louisiana
Florida
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AK_MS
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NorthDakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Michigan
Colorado
SouthDakota
Oklahoma
Kansas
Nebraska
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WestVirginia
Missouri
Arkansas
Illinois
Indiana
Tennessee
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Georgia
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Virginia
Charleston
NewYork
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Pennsylvania
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Boston
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Washington
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Idaho
NewMexico
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What's your risk?
Click a region to find out its potential for damage should an earthquake occur.
Earthquake design
Buildings designed for earthquake resistance are very ductile, meaning they'll sway or stretch under pressure. The most dangerous type of building to be in during an earthquake is one of unreinforced masonry, which simply crumbles apart during a quake's shaking.
A few highrises today resist quakes through "base isolation." The point is to isolate the building from the ground to lessen the impact of the ground-shaking on the building. One interesting way this is done is by setting clusters of ball bearings under the building's columns and walls so the structure literally rolls through the quake.
ls through the quake.
o the structure literally rolls through the quake.
are non-quake resistant structures retrofitted? Walls can be braced, buttresses built to take the force...'s columns and walls so the structure literally rolls through the quake.
How are non-quake resistant structures retrofitted? Walls can be braced, buttresses built to take the force.ake.
How are non-quake resistant structures retrofitted? Walls can be braced, buttresses built to take the force......ing way this is done is by setting clusters of ball bearings under the building's columns and walls so the structure literally rolls through the quake.
How are non-quake resistant structures retrofitted? Walls can be braced, buttresses built to take the force.n be braced, buttresses built to take the force.
Earthquake design
Quaking buildings
What can you expect to happen to your office during an earthquake? An earthquake's vibrations cause building foundations to settle or fail; buildings to lurch; earth to liquify, compact, or slide, leading to further building damage; and lakes and pools to form waves that can flood nearby structures.
Expect a building's nonstructural elements (lighting fixtures, plumbing, ceiling tiles, etc.) and its contents to fall, tip, or break.
heir haste to leave a building during a quake, people can get injured when a building's cornices and facings fall across doorways, catching those who exit. That's why it's a better idea to stay in your office during a quake than try to leave.
fall across doorways, catching those who exit. That's why it's a better idea to stay in your office during a quake than try to leave.
The original engineering analysis was incomplete.
Ceilings have inadequate connections.
The building's designers underestimated the force of the ground-shaking that the building would have to endure.
Quaking buildings
d d d +
Case study: Bay Area
High-rise buildings proved to be among the safer havens during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, which struck at 5:04 p.m. when many people were in their offices or leaving them.
In response to the 1971 San Fernando tremor, San Francisco adopted stringent building codes designed to keep highrises intact when the earth shakes. Not one highrise built according to these codes suffered major damage in the 1989 quake.
According to one highrise dweller, trying to keep his balance during the quake was like walking on a moving waterbed. d. ys as much as 14 feet. According to one highrise dweller, trying to keep one's balance during the quake was like walking on a moving waterbed. waterbed.
The red lines show faults in the Bay area.
:PHYSSIZE
San Francisco
Andreas
Rogers Creek
Hayward
Concord
Green Valley
Cala-
veras
Case study: Bay Area, California
"survivalKit"
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survivalKit
Move or secure heavy objects that can fall, such as bookcases. Even heavy furniture can scoot across an office during large tremors.
Place large objects such as plants close to the ground rather than atop file cabinets or shelves. This helps prevent them from falling on you. Store chemicals or other volatile substances close to the ground, such as on a bottom shelf, where they're less likely to spill if disturbed.
Keep handy a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and spare batteries plus an emergency survival kit. You may want one kit for the office and one for your car. in power switch is for
Keep handy a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and spare batteries plus an emergency survival kit.survival kit.t.
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Emergency
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Spare batteries
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Bottled water
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"survivalKit"
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Before the quake (cont.)
When will it stop?
You can expect the shaking to last from one to five minutes in a quake of magnitude 7.5-9. The 1989 San Francisco quake was atypical for a quake of its magnitude and lasted just over 10 seconds. The 1906 San Francisco quake lasted for more than a minute. The 1964 Alaska quake lasted 4-1/2 to 7 minutes...ition, if you're near the sea, the fault or rupture caused by the quake may start a tsunami.
You can expect the shaking to last from one to five minutes in a quake of magnitude 7.5 - 9. The 1989 San Francisco quake was atypical for a quake of its magnitude and lasted just over 10 seconds. The 1906 San Francisco quake lasted for more than a minute. The 1964 Alaska quake lasted 4-1/2 to 7 minutes.
When will it stop?
Measuring quakes
When the quake hits:
If you're in a brick building, get against an interior, non-masonry wall.
If you're in a parking garage, crouch against a pillar or solid wall. Do not try to drive your car.
If you're in an elevator, push all floor buttons and get off at first stop. If trapped between floors, use the intercom or escape through the ceiling trap door.
Even if you follow the "duck and cover" rule, you must be careful. The desk or table you duck under could slip and slide during the shaking. You could even get thrown off balance as you try to duck under it. If you stand in a doorway, the door may swing and injure you.
During the quake (cont.)
Predicting the future
-- Capture
direct navigation
correct
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"What's your risk?"
myLeftArrow
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What's your risk?
While scientists have been studying earthquakes for many years, they are as yet not able to predict them with much precision. The most likely indicator for a quake in a given area is whether a quake has occurred there before.
New technology such as global satellite positioning is showing scientists exactly how much the earth's crust is moving, a sign of impending earthquakes. But your best protection against an earthquake is still preparedness.rizontal points with satellites, Measurements are compared from year to year to detect earth movement to within a pencil width. GPS has shown that Mt. Everest, in the highly quake-prone Himalayas, is growing by about 1 cm a year...other way researchers are seeing the earth's crustal activity. GPS measures distances between horizontal points with satellites, Measurements are compared from year to year to detect earth movement to within a pencil width. GPS has shown that Mt. Everest, in the highly quake-prone Himalayas, is growing by about 1 cm a year.
Predicting the future
Measuring quakes
re measured
"Mercalli"
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Mercalli
The Richter Scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, which can be translated as the amount of energy released. The Richter Scale is logarithmic. Every full point in magnitude represents an earthquake ten times more powerful. So a quake of magnitude 8 is 100 times stronger than one of magnitude 6.
The Mercalli Scale defines 12 levels of observed intensity of earthquakes. It measures the degree of ground shaking at a certain location, so it's used to describe an earthquake's effects on people and buildings in a given place.
Mercalli levels
"Mercalli"
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Mercalli
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Mercalli
These are some ratings of intensity from the Mercalli Scale:
Level I: The quake is barely felt by people at the site.
Level VI: Plaster walls crack, tables slide, chimneys are damaged.
Level XII: Ground tosses visibly up and down, objects fly wildly into the air, structures collapse.the air, structures collapse..........
mercalliOK
"Mercalli"
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Mercalli
Measuring quakes
What should you do?
What should you do?
In 1990, seismic catastrophes caused almost as many deaths worldwide as during the entire decade of the 1980s.
Preparedness is the key in reducing loss of life and damage when an earthquake occurs.
Earthquake Quiz
Earthquake quiz
In the office of the nineties, earthquake preparedness is a way of life. You want to protect your possessions and protect yourself from your possessions.
The first step in improving your odds of surviving an earthquake is to identify the risks. The next page illustrates some of those risks.
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pageQuakeSection
Predicting the future
During the quake
When will it stop?
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Earthquake safety in the office
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xplain the risk factors
fmap
blueFactor
"No damage."
whiteFactor
"Minor
!; distant earthquakes may cause
& "
structures; corresponds
intensities V
& "
Mercalli scale."
celadonFactor
"Moderate
intensity VII"\
& "
tealFactor
"Major
& "
higher
whiteFactor
blueFactor
celadonFactor
tealFactor
blueFactor
No damage.
whiteFactor
Minor damage; distant earthquakes may cause damage
to structures; corresponds to intensities V and VI
of the Mercalli scale.
celadonFactor
Moderate damage; corresponds to intensity VII
of the Mercalli scale.
tealFactor
Major damage; corresponds to intensity VIII
and higher of the Mercalli scale.
shaanxi
"Shaanxi, China. 1556. The worst natural disaster
recorded"\
& "
huge earthquake (estimated
)magnitude 8.0-8.3)"\
& " spread devastation over 98
& " counties. An
X830,000 people were killed."
calcutta
"Calcutta, India. 1737. Few details are available about
& "
, which
300,000
newMadrid
"New
, MO. A series
4-8.7 quakes
& " 1811
1812
felt
a 1 million square mile area."\
& "
injured
epicenter
now known"\
& "
be a fault
North American continental"\
& " plate."
honshu
"Honshu, Japan. 1854. An
107,000
& "
twhole subduction zone beneath
island moved. Stress builds"\
& " up
ocean
dives under
& " relieved
Hseismic activity.
has
cycle
i-up"\
& "
Frelease
fearthquakes
1707, 1854, 1944-46."
sanFrancisco
"San
, CA. 1906. When
northern
Andreas
& " shifted
H22 ft.,
3 was released that
& "
3,000
around
. As
& "
city's less powerful 1989
, much
damage occurred"\
& "
areas underlain
Hlandfill along
waterfront.
& " off
largest urban fire
raged
s, leaving nearly"\
& " 350,000
homeless."
messina
"Messina, Italy. 1908. Crustal movement shook Sicily
& "
7.5 intensity.
shore
lowered
H3 ft."\
& "
place,
tsunamis
coast."\
& " An
160,000
gansu
"Gansu,
920. A
sent"\
& " intense shockwaves through
poor soil
province,"\
& " causing major landslides
across a 26,000
& "
150,000
yokohama
"Yokohama,
& "
fires throughout
fanned
H50 mph winds."\
& " In nearby Tokyo, 400,000 buildings within a 7
& "
burned
ashes. An
140,000
nanshan
"Nanshan,
927.
struck
& " mountainous region measured 8.3 on
Richter Scale
& " XI on
Mercalli
. An
200,000
sanriku
"Sanriku,
933. A
submarine
measuring"\
& " 8.9 on
generated 75-ft.
devastated
& " coastal
. An
2,900
assam
"Assam,
950.
sits atop a shallow, almost"\
& "
produce
& "
7. Such
=-angle faults
& "
planet
lso found
Chile
Alaska."\
& " An
1,530
chile
4. 1960. Called
& "
southern
9 on
, killing"\
& "
5,300
3 . It
toward Hawaii"\
& "
G more
alaska
"Anchorage, AK. 1964.
Good Friday
& " four minutes
8.4.
shaking
& "
rearranged Alaskan real estate
& " lifting
dropping mountains, ice fields, fiords,
seashore."\
& " An
, including 12
Hdrowning
Crescent City,"\
& " CA, where 20-ft
crashed
tangshan
"Tangshan,
976.
exploded
& "
, industrial
, levelling factories, apartments,"\
& " schools,
240,000
infrastructure--pipes,"\
& " cables, drains--
smashed,
news
xreach"\
& " Beijing
some hours, carried
Ha motorist."
mexicoCity
"Michoacan, Mexico. 1985.
levelled"\
& " villages
Mexican
10,000
& " Hundreds
modern office
240 miles"\
& "
, collapsed during the"\
& "
. Built on
ancient lake bed
fa high
> table,"\
& " they suffered maximum
intensities
ground"\
& " liquified. Much
district
& " constructed on a similarly susceptible mud."
newMadrid
gansu
yokohama
calcutta
nanshan
honshu
sanriku
sanFrancisco
assam
chile
alaska
shaanxi
tangshan
messina
mexicoCity
shaanxi
Shaanxi, China. 1556. The worst natural disaster in recorded
history, this huge earthquake (estimated at magnitude 8.0-8.3)
spread devastation over 98 of China's
counties. An estimated 830,000 people were killed.
calcutta
Calcutta, India. 1737. Few details are available about this
disaster, which killed an estimated 300,000 people.
newMadrid
New Madrid, MO. A series of magnitude 8.4-8.7 quakes in
1811 and 1812 were felt over a 1 million square mile area.
Few people were injured or killed. The epicenter is now known
to be a fault in the middle of the North American continental
plate.
honshu
Honshu, Japan. 1854. An estimated 107,000 people killed when
the whole subduction zone beneath the island moved. Stress builds
up as the ocean plate dives under the continental plate and is
relieved by seismic activity. Honshu has felt this cycle of build-up
then release with earthquakes in 1707, 1854, 1944-46.
sanFrancisco
San Francisco, CA. 1906. When the northern San Andreas fault
shifted by 22 ft., an earthquake of magnitude 8.3 was released that killed
an estimated 3,000 people in and around San Francisco. As with
the city's less powerful 1989 quake, much of the worst damage occurred
in areas underlain by landfill along the waterfront. The quake set
off the largest urban fire in US history that raged over 4 square miles, leaving nearly
350,000 people homeless.
messina
Messina, Italy. 1908. Crustal movement shook Sicily with
magnitude 7.5 intensity. The shore line was lowered by 3 ft.
in one place, and tsunamis raged along the coast.
An estimated 160,000 people killed.
gansu
Gansu, China. 1920. A magnitude 8.6 quake sent
intense shockwaves through the poor soil of this province,
causing major landslides and damage across a 26,000 square mile
area. An estimated 150,000 people were killed.
yokohama
Yokohama, Japan. 1923. A quake of magnitude 8.3 set off a series
of fires throughout the city, which were fanned by 50 mph winds.
In nearby Tokyo, 400,000 buildings within a 7 square mile
area were burned to ashes. An estimated 140,000 people were killed.
nanshan
Nanshan, China. 1927. The earthquake that struck this
mountainous region measured 8.3 on the Richter Scale and
XI on the Mercalli Scale. An estimated 200,000 people were killed.
sanriku
Sanriku, Japan. 1933. A huge submarine earthquake measuring
8.9 on the Richter Scale generated 75-ft. tsunamis that devastated this
coastal region. An estimated 2,900 people were killed.
assam
Assam, India. 1950. Assam sits atop a shallow, almost
horizontal fault that shifted to produce an earthquake of
magnitude 8.7. Such low-angle faults produce the largest
earthquakes on the planet and are also found in Chile and Alaska.
An estimated 1,530 people were killed.
chile
Chile. 1960. Called the largest recorded quake, it struck
the southern coast of Chile and measured 8.9 on the Richter Scale, killing
an estimated 5,300 people. It sent a tsunami toward Hawaii
and Japan, killing more people.
alaska
Anchorage, AK. 1964. The Good Friday quake shook Alaska for
four minutes with a magnitude of 8.4. The shaking was felt
over a million square miles and rearranged Alaskan real estate by
lifting and dropping mountains, ice fields, fiords, and seashore.
An estimated 131 people were killed, including 12 by drowning in Crescent City,
CA, where 20-ft tsunami-generated waves crashed ashore.
tangshan
Tangshan, China. 1976. The magnitude 8.2 quake exploded beneath
this large, industrial city, levelling factories, apartments,
schools, and killing 240,000 people. The city's infrastructure--pipes,
cables, drains--was smashed, and news of the disaster did not reach
Beijing for some hours, carried by a motorist.
mexicoCity
Michoacan, Mexico. 1985. The magnitude 8.1 quake levelled
villages in this Mexican state and killed an estimated 10,000 people.
Hundreds of modern office buildings in Mexico City, 240 miles
from the epicenter, collapsed during the
shaking. Built on an ancient lake bed with a high water table,
they suffered maximum shaking intensities when the ground
liquified. Much of San Francisco's waterfront district is
constructed on a similarly susceptible mud.
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Instructions are given to tell you when a graphic is a hot object. For example, click the chair below.tails.
"This
acts like a footnote."
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This hotword acts like a footnote.
"A chair
the office
90's."
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A chair for the office of the 90's.
Using hot objects
Earthquake Quiz
Quakes of the past
:PHYSSIZE
newMadrid
newMadrid
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sanFrancisco
sanfrancisco
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sanfrancisco
shaanxi
shaanxi
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chile
chile
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chile
messina
messina
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<messina
honshu
honshu
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honshu
yokohama
yokohama
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Whyokohama
mexicoCity
mexicoCity
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mexicoCity
calcutta
calcutta
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=bcalcutta
sanriku
sanriku
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Gsanriku
alaska
alaska
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alaska
assam
assam
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assam
nanshan
nanshan
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75nanshan
tangshan
tangshan
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ctangshan
gansu
gansu
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gansu
Quakes of the past
Click a yellow triangle for details about the worst quakes in world history.
earthquakes in history
Earthquakes in history
Earthquakes recur where they have occurred in the past. You might be surprised to know that 39 of the 50 states are considered at risk of an earthquake.
This section describes how earthquakes are measured and shows a history of the worst quakes ever. Then find out the risk of an earthquake in different parts of the United States.
Are office buildings safe?
Are office buildings safe?
When an earthquake strikes, many people feel the urge to GET OUT. Yet surveys have shown that during an earthquake, a majority of injuries occur when people try to enter or exit a building.
Is it safe to be inside during an earthquake? It can be. The following sections discuss how buildings are made to withstand shaking and what you can expect to happen if you're caught inside when a quake hits.
What's your risk?
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Before the quake
Researchers agree: being prepared is the best defense against earthquakes. You should have a plan in place to direct you where to go and what to do if an earthquake strikes. This can help you stay calm when the shaking starts.
Plan and practice earthquake drills. Develop a highrise evacuation plan and arrange a rendezvous point for reuniting family members after a quake.
Know the locations of emergency exits, fire alarms, fire extinguishers. Keep a charged fire extinguisher in your office.
s an emergency survival kit.
Plan and practice earthquake drills. Develop a highrise evacuation plan and arrange a rendezvous point for reuniting family members after a quake.
Know the locations of emergency exits, fire alarms, fire extinguishers. Keep a charged fire extinguisher in your office.
Before the quake
During the quake
Stay in your office or apartment for the duration of the quake. Don't move until the shaking has stopped, and don't run for exits. Stairs may be damaged or jammed with people.
"Duck and cover" is still good advice: duck under a desk or table and hold on, stand in an interior doorway, or crouch in a hall. Be aware that even a heavy desk or table may "walk" during the quake. Stay clear of anything that could fall on you, including panes of glass.
Expect the fire alarm and sprinkler systems to be set off. Be ready for aftershocks.
an earthquake. Expect the fire alarm and sprinkler systems to be set off. Be ready for aftershocks.
ady for aftershocks.
shocks.
r car.
If you're in an elevator when quake starts, push all floor buttons and get off at first stop. If trapped between floors, use intercom or escape through ceiling trap door.
Don't panic at the movement of the building. Most highrises are designed to sway during an earthquake. Expect the fire alarm and sprinkler systems to be set off. Be ready for aftershocks.
During the quake
After the quake
After the quake
If a quake strikes when you're at the office, a top priority will be reuniting with your family. But wait until you hear that it's safe to leave the building. Consider too whether you can even get home. Is that the best place to go? Listen to radio reports, but confirm the news you hear before acting.
Prepare to survive on your own at least 72 hours. Communications will be disrupted, and emergency response teams will be under heavy pressure.
A quake is a terrifying experience. Be aware of the trauma it causes. Be patient with yourself and others.
. Be patient with yourself and others.
told that sewer lines are intact.
Don't eat any food that's near broken glass.
Unless you have an emergency, avoid using the telephone. Cellular phones can be very usefule; they were used extensively after the San Francisco quake when conventional lines were inundated.
If you live near the ocean, listen for tsunami warnings.
A quake is a terrifying experience. Be aware of the trauma it causes. Be patient with yourself and others.