Understanding

Earthquake Hazards
Earthquake a weak to violent
shaking of the ground produced by
the sudden movement of rock
materials below the earth’s surface.

Earthquakes are the Earth's natural

means of releasing stress.
The Great Hanshin
Earthquake
KOBE, JAPAN
Date : 17 January 1995
Time : 5:46 am (Jap. Time)
Magnitude : 6.9
Depth : 22 kms
Casualties : 5,502
Injured : 36,896
~200,000 buildings are
damaged or destroyed.
~300,000 people were
evacuated to temporary
shelters
Source: USGS
Types of Earthquake
• Artificial Earthquakes
• Natural Earthquakes
Types of Natural Earthquakes

Tectonic
earthquakes produced by sudden
movement along faults and plate
boundaries

Volcanic
earthquakes produced by movement
of magma beneath volcanoes
How Do We Measure
Earthquakes?
 Magnitude and Intensity
Magnitude
A measure of the total energy released at
the earthquake’s point of origin (below
earth’s surface) based on information
derived from a seismograph
Intensity
Perceived strength of an earthquake
based on relative effect to people and
structures (on the earth’s surface);
generally higher near the epicenter
 Earthquake Hazards

Ground shaking Ground Rupture Liquefaction

Landslide Tsunami Fire

Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but
the damage they cause can be
greatly reduced with communication
strategies, proper structural design,
emergency preparedness planning,
education, and safer building
standards.
 WHAT TO DO
BEFORE
DURING
AFTER

AN EARTHQUAKE
BEFORE
THE KEY TO EFFECTIVE DISASTER
PREVENTION IS PLANNING

• Determine whether the site is along

an active fault and/or prone to
liquefaction or landslide which may
cause damage to your house or
building.
• Be sure that proper structural design
and engineering practice is followed
when constructing a house or building.
• Evaluate the structural soundness of
buildings and important infrastructures;
strengthen or retrofit it, if found
necessary.
 BEFORE

• Identify relatively strong parts of the

building like door jambs, near elevator
shafts, sturdy tables, where you can
take refuge during an earthquake.

• Learn to use fire extinguishers, first

aid kits, alarms and emergency exits.
These should be accessibly and
conveniently located, and prominently
marked.
BEFORE

• Strap heavy furniture/cabinets to the

wall to prevent sliding or topping.

• Breakable items, harmful chemicals

and flammable materials should be
stored in the lowermost shelves and
secured firmly.

Make it a habit to turn off gas tanks

when not in use.
 BEFORE
MOST CAUSES OF INJURIES DURING
EARTHQUAKE ARE FROM FALLING
DEBRIS
• Heavy materials should be kept in
lower most shelves.

• Check the stability of hanging

objects which may break loose and fall
during earthquakes.

• Prepare and maintain an earthquake

survival kit consisting of a battery
powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit,
potable water, candies, ready-to-eat
food, whistle and dust mask.
DURING
IF YOU ARE INSIDE A STRUCTURALLY
SOUND BUILDING, STAY THERE

• Heavy materials should be kept in

lower shelves.
• Check the stability of hanging
objects which may break loose and fall
during earthquakes.
• Have with you an earthquake
survival kit consisting of a battery
powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit,
potable water, candies, ready-to-eat
food, blankets, whistle and dust mask.
 DURING

IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE, MOVE TO AN

OPEN AREA

• Get away from power lines, posts,

walls and other structures that may fall
or collapse.
DURING

WHEN DRIVING A VEHICLE, PULL TO

THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP

• Do not attempt to cross bridges or

overpasses which may have been
damaged.
 DURING

• Stay away from building with glass

panes.
DURING

• If you are along the shore and you

feel a very strong earthquake, strong
enough to make standing difficult, it is
always safest to assume that a tsunami
(giant sea waves) has been triggered.

• Run away from the shore towards

higher ground.
 DURING

• If you are on a mountain or near a

steep hillslope, move away from steep
escarpments which may be affected by
landslides.
AFTER

IF YOU ARE INSIDE AN OLD, WEAK

STRUCTURE, TAKE THE FASTEST AND
SAFEST WAY OUT

• Do not rush to the exit; get out

calmly in an orderly manner.

• Do not use elevators, use the stairs.

• Check yourself and others for

injuries.
 AFTER

HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF

CASUALTIES FROM THE EARTHQUAKE

• Don’t enter partially damaged

buildings, aftershocks may cause these
to collapse.
• Gather information and disaster
prevention instructions from battery-
operated radios.
• Obey public safety precautions.
AFTER

CHECK YOUR SURROUNDINGS

• Clean-up chemical spills, toxic and

flammable materials to avoid any chain
of unwanted events.
• Check for fire and if any, have it
controlled.
 AFTER

UNLESS YOU NEED EMERGENCY HELP

• Do not use your telephone to call

relatives and friends. Disaster
prevention authorities may need the
lines for emergency communications.

• Do not use your car and drive around

areas of damage. Rescue and relief
operations need the roads for mobility.
AFTER

• Check your water and electrical lines

for defects. If any damage is suspected,
turn the system off in the main valve or
switch.
 AFTER

IF YOU MUST EVACUATE YOUR

RESIDENCE, LEAVE A MESSAGE
STATING WHERE YOU ARE GOING

• Take with you your earthquake

survival kit, which should contain all
necessary items for your protection and
comfort.
 EARTHQUAKE TIPS
and
COUNTER-MEASURES

OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE

Regional Center III

DANGER ZONES
• Windows and glass
• Books shelves, cabinets and
furniture that may topple or slide
• Spaces blocked by debris
• Power lines or utility poles
• Bridges and flyovers
• Elevators
• Narrow alleys between buildings
SAFETY SPOTS
• Reinforce safe spots
by acting on what to do:
• Identify safe spots:
Under a sturdy desk or table
Under door jambs, in a strong
supported doorway/beams
In an inside corner of the room
TEN INDICATORS OF
DANGEROUS BULDINGS

1. Buildings that are more than

50 years
2. Buildings constructed along
fault lines
3. Buildings constructed along
coastal regions, may be hit
by huge waves or tsunami
TEN INDICATORS OF
DANGEROUS BULDINGS

4. Buildings constructed at the

foot of a mountain where
massive avalanche of rocks
or landslide may occur
5. Buildings constructed on
upstream fill may move do
downstream together with
the building
TEN INDICATORS OF
DANGEROUS BULDINGS

6. Buildings constructed along

cliff or ravine and rivers
7. High rise buildings that are
still undergoing construction
8. High rise buildings that have
glass panes
 TEN INDICATORS OF
DANGEROUS BULDINGS
9. Renovated gutted buildings
10. Buildings that have distinctive changes
in structure such as vertical alignment of
columns & sagging of beams, cracks at
the joints & walls, doors & windows are
hard to close or open & uneven floor
level
WHAT TO EXPECT & DO
AFTER MAIN SHOCK
• Strong aftershocks
• Take care of each other
• Deal with emotional needs
• Stay close & comfort each other
• Talk about what happened
• Stay cool
Thank You for Listening