We all need to know what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Even though we are a modern, advanced society, earthquakes can bring disaster that only people who have survived them can begin to testify of. A strong earthquake, such as the one that was just experienced in Haiti can bring destruction that defies the imagination! This is why we have to at least prepare and know what to do in the event of an earthquake in our local areas.
You will need an earthquake survival kit for your home, automobile, and office, or where you spend the most of your waking and sleeping hours.
Prepare yourself and your family now. Always have an earthquake survival kit on hand and a survival plan. Here are a list of the following items and tips that can be crucial for your survival in the event of an earthquake.
You might not realize the importance of the first items, but they can help in so many ways in the aftermath of an earthquake. A will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds. Passports, social security cards, immunization records, bank account numbers, checks, cash, credit card account numbers and companies and or credit cards. An inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers, family records (birth, marriage, death certificates), and any copies of other pertinent information you might feel more secure in having.
High energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix. Comfort foods such as chocolate, candy, suckers, gum, and any other that would be a comfort to you and yours. Remember not to have foods that require alot of water to prepare. Also limit foods that would increase thirst.
Pet food, at least one ounce per animal pound per day.
A large first aid kit that is always freshly stocked with the following items. A first aid manual and know how to use it. Hot and cold packs that use no heat or refrigeration. Splint materials to set broken bones temporarily, and instructions on how to use them. Personal prescriptions and other personal medications should kept up to date in your kit. Eyeglasses, hot and cold packs that use no heat or refrigeration. Muscle rubs, materials for burns and bandages for burns also. Tylenol, ibuprofen, peroxide, alcohol, antacids, vitamins, antiseptic, antibacterial ointment, basic burn ointment, tweezers, needles and threads.
You can also take CPR and first aid classes now to be prepared for any future emergencies, including earthquakes.
The next items will make basic survival more comfortable and may aid in saving your life. Let's begin with a tarp or ground covering, blankets, easy to put up tents. A portable, battery operated radio with extra batteries. A fire extinguisher that is a dry chemical type, ABC. Flashlights, spare batteries and bulbs, also the ones that you shake that are solar powered. A watch and a battery operated or wind up clock.
You can also purchase a c.b. radio and learn how to use it. (It could be the only way to communicate, depending on the severity of the earthquake.
There are small, portable, non-electric heaters and air conditioners, that you can purchase in many outdoor stores, Army surplus stores, or on-line. I know this may seem extravagant, but staying warm or cool, may be important to you and your loved ones health. Especially if the weather is extremely hot or cold, depending on the time of year it is, and the climate you live in.
Next I will give you suggestions on other basic needs for your comfort and survival. An outdoor charcoal grill with plenty of charcoal and lighter fluid. Again, matches in a waterproof container and lighters. another suggestion would be a small propane stove with small propane bottles, or even a camping stove. various size pots and pans for cooking. Plastic resealable bags, various sizes. Plastic containers are also recommended. Paper towels, plastic trash bags, paper plates, plastic utensils, dish detergent and liquid laundry detergent.
Waste and water protection with large plastic trash bags or portable plastic water storage containers. A portable toilet. Large trash cans can be used to store things in or catch rain water in.
For personal hygiene you will need at least sunscreen, soap, shampoo, combs, brushes. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, deodorant, feminine supplies, infant supplies. Toilet paper, alot of it!
A portable toilet can be purchased at many camping supply stores for a fairly reasonable price. It has been recommended to purchase powdered chlorinated lime to add to sewage to disinfect and keep away insects. Also citronella candles will help keep away mosquitos. Newspaper can be used to wrap waste, and garbage, and can be used for warmth.
I lived in the mountains of Idaho when I was in my twenties, and later in northern Minnesota. I learned to make homemade portable heaters in case of being stranded out in a blizzard or if my car broke down. I used an empty, dry, coffee can or a similar one, place one roll of toilet paper inside and saturate it well with rubbing alcohol. You can light this in an emergency and use it for heat in your car or other places of necessary survival after an earthquake.
These essentials are also necessary to basic survival for walking on and helping clean up debris. Heavy shoes for every family member, and it would be a good idea to keep them by your bed at night. Heavy duty gloves for anyone that is cleaning up debris. Face masks, to protect you from fumes. Alot of candles for light. Sharp knives and single edge razor blades. A garden hose, to be used for siphoning and fire fighting.
Complete changes of clothing so you can be kept dry. You can use your garbage bags to store dry clothes in and then recycle the bags for another use as time goes by.
The tools you should have for helping to move debris, or making a fire are n axe, a shovel, broom, a crescent wrench for shutting off a gas main. Screwdrivers, shovels, hammers, rope or bailing wire, plastic and duct tape. A crow bar, portable heavy duty jacks, lifting tools of any kind that do not require electricity, and other digging tools that you may need.
Store these items in a sturdy dry place that can be reached readily in case of your house being damaged or worst case, collapsing. Store them in a shed, or outside in a secure, dry container.
An automobile emergency kit should be put together also. In this you will need, non-perishable food stored in coffee cans, bottled water. Comfort,stress foods such as chocolate, cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags. A good first aid kit and manual, fire extinguisher, blankets, sealable plastic bags, flashlights and spare batteries, critical medications and eyeglasses. Screwdrivers, wire, knife, and pliers. A short rubber hose, pre-moistened towelettes, toilet paper, rubbing alcohol feminine supplies, sturdy shoes, gloves, baby items and children's items as needed. Lot's of extras!
Also for the car you should have, peroxide, rubbing alcohol, antibacterial ointment, tylenol or ibuprofen. You may want to make your own large emergency medical kit to meet the needs of the individuals in your family. A 10-day supply of water, food, and medicine is recommended! Your emergency items should be enough for at least three days or longer.
In the event of an earthquake you need to stay as calm as possible. If you are inside, you need to stand in a doorway, or crouch under a desk or table away from glass windows. If you are outside, stand away from buildings, trees, telephones an electrical lines. If you are on the road, drive away from underpasses and overpasses, stop in a safe area, and stay in your vehicle. After the earthquake has stopped, check for injuries and if you are able provide first aid.
If you are at home, check for safety. Check for gas, water, sewage breaks. Also check for downed power lines and shorts. Turn off appropriate utilities and check for building damage and potential problems during aftershocks. You would want to clean up dangerous spills if at all possible. Wear shoes! If you or someone with you is able to, turn on the radio and listen for instructions from public safety agencies as soon as possible. It is recommended to use the telephone for emergencies, only.
This is where I would recommend a c.b. radio if you can afford one. Sometimes they are the best way to communicate in the event of an earthquake.
You should get to your earthquake preparedness kit if at all possible, and follow the above safety tips.
Remember there may be aftershocks, so stay in a safe area of your choice. Preferably somewhere that is away from, falling debris, away from electrical lines, and tall buildings.
Remember, it is best to be prepared before an earthquake strikes!
Earthquake Preparedness, You Must Be Ready!Historically, it appears that Earthquakes are more prevalent directly after the harvest moon cycles. This does not mean you necessarily have to worry if you live on top of an active Earthquake fault, but the odds are greater during this time period. Does this mean the big one will hit Southern California, the Oregon Coastline, Peru or Mexico City?
Well, it very well could happen and if you were going to make a bet on when an Earthquake might occur, it makes sense to bet when the odds are slightly more favorable. Now, I hope you do not go out and bet your life savings away, it wouldn't be that great of a bet and I wouldn't want you sitting at home praying for the big one to ruin anyone's day, here or abroad in China, Indonesia, Turkey, Iran, Japan, Australia or the Kuril Islands.
Now with that said there probably will be a 6.0 or greater Earthquake during the Harvest Moon Cycle somewhere in the World, but no one really knows when or where. Although scientists are making heard way studying vibrational energy from satellites in space and may soon be able to predict a greater probability of where a quake might occur, predicting Earthquakes is still very much a lost art. But, to you question; Are Earthquakes More Prevalent During The Harvest Moon Cycles?
The answer is yes and the whole concept behind the harvest moon, is that the gravity waves are slightly changed and this pulls the water more to the surface allowing seedlings to have that initial water they need to get started. The Harvest Moon cycle also provides an abundance of light in for those who wish to do the planting, so that is why they call it the Harvest Moon and you can see why this could affect slight changes in ground movement, which could invariably be enough to cause a tiny shift and trigger a larger Earthquake.
Are Earthquakes More Prevalent During the Harvest Moon Cycles?Because one Tectonic plate was sliding under the other plate
The considerable Japan earthquake shifted the earth's axis position
Deforming it and that temblor already had caused Earth to rotate
Faster than before when Hawaii reached these waves transmission.
This temblor may have affected the distance of the Earth's days
So,each day may be quite two microseconds shorter than before.
Some parts of this country were moved twelve feet as scientists say,
The tremors sent a monster tsunami which slammed into the shore.
The aftershocks were rapidly persisting without decreasing in frequency
While a rupture near the boundary in the middle of those tectonic plates occured.
Usually, the Pacific plate gradually moves to westwards at a very low velocity.
This quake was caused by Pacific and American plates boundary rupture.
The dissipation of the heat from the mantle was a real source of power
For Pacific plate thrusting underneath the Japan and Eurasia plate.
This drive of plate tectonics was potential because of the excess density,
'Cause lithosphere became dense by cooling until having a solid state.
The boundary in the middle of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates
Are part of the "Ring of Fire" and runs from south of Fiordland
Along the line of the Southern Alps, below fabulous Cook Strait,
Capital of Wellington, and out to sea straight through the eastern North Island.
A section of the prehistoric supercontinent Gondwana broke away
Eighty million years ago comprising a few slithers of land left to drift
Coalescing into a new continent,Zealandia,under the Southern sun's ray.
When magma heated continental crust above to crack open to form a rift.
Due to seismic activity, sea levels temporary fluctuated finding so glum
Zealandia sank below sea level letting New Zealand to be a remnant.
The pressure of opposing tectonic plates caused the Alpine Fault to come.
The Southern Alps rose above the water finding like the moon's crescent.
Earth's outside is recycled straight through the volcanic emission and subduction.
The quake can be caused by a rupture near the boundary in the middle of plates.
The causes are high the level of carbone dioxide and sometimes erosion,
But when the rupture is big, it can come to be a real monstruous Hell's gate.
The Pacific plate had thrusted underneath Japan and in a late,
It dipped below Eurasia plate and the earthquake occurred along
The subduction zone at the interface in the middle of those two tectonic plates.
Two thousands citizen died because the earthquake was very strong.
The Pacific plate moves normally westwards at a very slow velocity.
The boundary in the middle of the Pacific and Australian Plate runs broadly
Along New Zealand,where an additional one quake occured with a strong ferocity,
While planet is on a one-way warming trend triggered by human activity.
Even as the death toll in the Sichuan quake creeps past the 55,000 mark, not many people are aware of a possible killer hiding in the midst of the survivors.
No doubt, the main concern now is to provide the survivors of the quake with adequate food, water, sanitation and other basic needs required. However, if authorities neglected the possible implications of crush syndrome over logistic concerns, it could prove disastrous to the remaining survivors.
What is crush syndrome all about?
First discovered by the British physician Eric Bywaters during the 1941 London Blitz , the crush syndrome has always played a significant role in increasing the death toll during war, earthquakes and many other occasions where people are found to be buried under heavy rubble.
To put it simply, crush syndrome is a condition caused when an excessive force is applied to a group of muscles for a long time. Toxic proteins are then released due to the overwhelming external pressure on the body, and damage is inflicted as a result.
There are many clinical symptoms associated with crush syndrome, and some of the more severe ones include likely kidney failure, heart attack and blockage of blood vessels since the pressure exerted by the heavy rubble constricts the blood vessels.
Unlike the common cold, where the symptoms displayed are fairly obvious even to the untrained observer, some patients who suffer from crush syndrome do not even know about their condition, and they exhibit common symptoms (high index of suspicion, altered consciousness etc.) Thus, the reason why crush syndrome has always been a silent killer is because not many people, including patients and trained paramedics themselves have even noticed it until it was too late.
On July 28, 1976, the Tangshan earthquake saw a total of 164851 people injured, and crush syndrome occurred in 2% to 5% of the patients. When another earthquake occurred in Armenia in 1988, crush syndrome was found to be the 3rd most frequent injury and the leading cause of death. Thus, this indicates the severity of the crush syndrome on the health of existing survivors.
How should first-aiders respond to crush syndrome?
While waiting for paramedics and disaster relief teams to arrive, first-aiders should first attempt to remove any heavy objects (e.g. Rubble) that are trapping the survivors. Plenty of water should also be given to these survivors to ensure that they have sufficient hydration.
Most importantly, coordinate your rescue attempt carefully, since once you removed the rubble, the toxic proteins will effectively travel even faster within the survivors' blood stream. Timing is of the essence here. Also, maintain the airway of survivors to allow for air circulation, and be prepared to transport him to the nearest medical center (Since the toxic proteins are travelling all over his body now.) once he is freed.
What's the situation now in China for patients with crush syndrome?
A team of doctors from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have already sent in the necessary equipment needed for kidney dialysis to the affected areas in China to prepare for patients with crush syndrome having kidney failure. Also, three nephrologists (physicians trained in kidney diseases) have also been dispatched to China to reinforce the necessary treatment that needs to be given.
Summary
In conclusion, just a short round-up of all the points mentioned in this article and the inclusion of other miscellaneous tips:
What is crush syndrome all about?
Occurs when excessive force is exerted on a group of muscles for a long time.
Symptoms include:
Possible kidney failure,
heart attack
blockage of blood vessels.
Weak and rapid pulse
Pale,cool & clammy skin
How should first-aiders respond to crush syndrome?
Remove rubble
Give plenty of water
Wait for aid
Be prepared to load & go patient once he is freed
Maintain airway, breathing & circulation (ABCs)
What's the situation now in China for patients with crush syndrome?
Doctors Without Borders have sent three doctors to affected areas. Equipment needed for possible kidney dialysis have also been sent in.
Crush Syndrome - The Grim Reaper In The Sichuan QuakeIt seems that in new years some of the most severe hazards have taken place. Their substantial destructiveness goes hand in hand with the suffering of the people concerned. Many of us will ask ourselves why such disasters could not be prevented in times of contemporary technology and high scientific know how. But like weather, volcanoes or earthquakes cannot be influenced by the human intelligence. Life would not be life if we could control everything, even if it is difficult to perceive why these terrible things do happen.
I have written this narrative to clarify a minute about the nature of volcanoes and earthquakes.
Especially volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are devastating natural hazards which are both difficult to predict and difficult to respond to.
However, examples like Montserrat, Mount St. Helens, Heimaey, the San Francisco earthquake and the Mexican earthquake clarify the differences in terms of predicting and responding to these hazards.
Volcanic eruptions are easier to predict than earthquakes, as minor earthquakes are often the first 'sign' of a following volcanic eruption. The example of Mount St. Helens underlines this, as first signals of a advent volcanic eruption could be noticed already three months before the actual eruption. These signals can be whether minor earthquakes or even gas output in a volcano shows that it is 'active.'
Earthquakes are harder to predict as they occur suddenly without any warning or with short notice. Any way both earthquakes and volcanoes can be monitored and observed by seismographs, tilt meters, lasers, Gps and observation. Furthermore some animals like catfishes can be used to predict them as they are very sensitive. It is also potential to originate hazard maps as prediction for volcanic eruptions. These are based on old eruptions and close observations.
The example of Heimaey in Iceland shows that volcanoes can also occur unexpectedly. It erupted without any old signs on January 23rd 1973. In this case there were only 24 hours of minor tremors before a 400 metre fissure opened up to pour out lava. The Heimaey is only one example where a volcanic eruption occurred without old warning. Other examples like Mount St. Helens and Montserrat show that volcanic eruptions are usually easy to predict. Mount St. Helens for example resulted in the largest landslide in recorded history with a speed of 70 to 150 miles per hour. But due to great preparedness only 57 people died. This shows that early warning results in easier and more correct prediction.
As a normal rule, it can be said that earthquakes are more difficult to predict than volcanoes as they occur without any warning.
Is It Easier To Predict Volcanoes Or Earthquakes?Earthquake is one of those natural calamities that can be predictable yet inevitable. We all are customary with the word earthquake and communicate it to the health when the earth starts shaking and vibrating. What is the basic cause of an earthquake? Volcanic activities that are frequent; and the movement of tectonic plates under the crust of the Earth is the presuppose behind the occurrence of earthquakes.
Let us find out more about the types and some more reasons of earthquake.
The first thing to know is that the Earth's crust is made up of solid core, molten magma mantle and the tectonic plates. All this constitutes the Earth's crust. These plates are intelligent continuously because of the convection currents of the molten lava in the deep layers of the Earth. This results in either the plates sliding against one another, or intelligent away from one another. Well, all such massive movements inside the Earth's crust are felt by the living organisms, together with humans. Mountains and the valleys have been formed due to this continuous movement below the Earth's crust. There is a meeting point which is basically a point of friction in the middle of two plates. This meeting point, in geological terminology, is referred to as earthquake fault line. Sometimes these are also referred to as fractures on the Earth's crust. Once the plates start moving, the potential energy, also referred to as the stored energy, is let loose from the point of intersection, called hypocenter. This results in earthquakes.
Earthquake occurs in three waves. These waves are namely P-waves, the high frequency short distance longitudinal waves; S-waves, the secondary high frequency, short distance transverse wave; and the L-waves, the low frequency, long wavelength transverse waves.
What Causes an Earthquake?Some Unusual Activity
The end of September and first couple of weeks of October 2009 were really quite unusual as far as earthquake data goes. This period has been a rollercoaster with as many as 24 major earthquakes in one day and represents a heightened period of world major earthquakes. On either side of this peak at the end of September, there were some other fairly large daily totals too, so this activity is not just an individual daily anomaly, but a more sustained period of crustal unrest.
Putting it in Perspective
To put this all in perspective, normally there is an average of between 3 and 5 major earthquakes each day with occasional deviations away from this range sometimes up to about 10 or 11. However, 22 and 24 daily major earthquakes is very unusual and represents a move away from the norm which may or may not be significant. We wait and see if this trend continues.
Earthquake Trends
Common earthquake reporting seems to concentrate on showing maps containing earthquake locations and sizes, but often ignores trends that can give us some additional useful information on how the Earth is holding up. Trends can show a longer term view and will allow us to see individual groups of events in a different context which will either emphasize the group or reduce its relevance when viewed overall. The current trend of larger numbers of major earthquakes since the end of September does not fit into a normal pattern and so we should take more notice of this group of events and gather further information. For example, it could signify a change in Earth crustal movement which would need more research by scientists or it could be an anomalous 'glitch' in the longer term earthquake trend.
The Human Aspect
Looking at earthquakes in this way does not, of course, take into account the human aspect of the damage to buildings and local infrastructure that major earthquakes incur. On the ground, there are personal dramas and usually political opportunities that need to be addressed and we should always have this subjective aspect in the back of our minds when looking at earthquake data in an objective way.
Out of Sight....?
Often major events happen in far-off islands that have low numbers of population and are far from governmental support but these people could be our relatives and friends and just because they are few in number does not mean that we should not be concerned about the human suffering these major earthquake events cause. Where a major incident effects a modern city causing widespread damage to tower blocks and high numbers of population, it is easy for media to report and increases pressure on governments to act to limit damage and provide aid. Consequently more people hear about it and more public awareness is generated.
An Indication of Health
Sometimes I feel like a geeky sun-spot watcher, being concerned by the numbers of daily earthquakes, but I feel that it is an indication of the health of our planet. If anyone else is concerned about the rape and pillage by mankind of Earths resources, then they might be advised to keep an eye on the reaction of our Big Momma Earth to our mindless, un-caring, and profit-seeking technological advances.
What does it Mean?
I am not an expert in these matters, but in my non-expert opinion, I don't think there is anything particular to worry about in these figures - except to keep an eye on how things are going. The Earth is obviously more stressed than normal at the moment indicated by this unusually high number of major earthquakes. In case anyone is wondering about the scientist-predicted mega-earthquake, this period of unusual activity brings our minds back to this armageddon-ish warning and I too, hope we are not leading to the Big One in the near future. All we can do is to be spiritually and materially prepared and live our daily lives in a way that minimises our impact on the environment.
Major Earthquakes - Should We Be Concerned by the Unusual Recent Large Earthquake Activity?This story was originally written in 1994.
William Steele, the Seismology Lab Coordinator at the University of Washington Geophysics Program, has a son, Chris, who goes to elementary school. "He comes in sometimes and he loves to do stuff." It seems he'd recently put a seal on one of the lab's monitors, and his father had some problem accessing the equipment. "What an excuse!" Steele never did get into the schedule he'd wanted to show me.
December 4th of last year there was a magnitude 5.1 quake in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Aftershocks were felt in Washington State. I had headed out to the Uw in crusade of facts on up-to-date earthquake activity in the Puget Sound region.
"Oregon is relatively quiet next to Washington. But this year, we've had an astronomical estimate of activity in Oregon, counter to past patterns." Klamath Falls couldn't be noisier, said Steele, ticking off the numbers: September 4th, 5.9; Sept. 20th, 5.9, 5.0, 4.3; Dec. 4th, 5.1; and Christmas Day, 4.0, 3.4.
Most of our local activity in the Puget Sound region is recorded by the Uw's lab equipment. They have an crisis preparation computer schedule called "Beat the Quake," hailing from the land of quakes, California, which has suffered straight through quite a lot of severe earthquake damage lately. That's the schedule Steele had problem running on his computer. Fortunately, the Uw's Seismology Lab has far more crisis preparedness facts "so we don't have to begin from ground zero" in the likely event of an earthquake. Steele is also the public facts Officer outside quakes straight through the Uw. "We have 135 seismic stations throughout Washington and Oregon, currently operating, and we're expanding. We indeed cover a tremendously broad area."
They locate quakes precisely, then resolve the magnitude (quantity of total vigor released by the quake), location (area affected by the quake), and epicenter (location on the outside directly above the focus, or place where an earthquake originates.)
They derive data about the geology of the region as well. "It's essential data. This lab is an educational center for graduate students in geophysics." They also educate citizens. School groups bring in students, and Steele speaks at civic organizations, encouraging population to take activity and make themselves safer from earthquakes.
Of course, the big query everyone asks is, "When?"
"We're not able to put down a date. It's more involved because three types of quakes occur in the Puget Sound region. The most base are deep earthquakes.
"Signals tour straight through the planet's crust, sometimes all the way from the other side." Events from in any place show up on their helicorder sheets, manufacture an analog, a 24-hour record, of every quake. For example, the Klamath Falls quakes, which are very near California on the Oregon coast.
"We cover the Cascade Range, and have complicated stations on every volcano. We have a good middle point at Mt. Baker, sufficient to cover the region." Earthquakes colse to volcanoes are very common.
The lab shares data with California for quakes occurring on the border of California and Oregon. "We're part of the Washington Regional Seismic Network." Steele showed me a map of Pacific Northwest Seismicity, 1969-1991. There were huge blue clusters in Puget Sound. What are those, I asked. "Moderate, shallow, and deep quakes. The deep clusters are in the Puget Basin."
Deep earthquakes, the ones you indeed tend to write home about, are the largest in magnitude as measured on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. The values usually range from 1.0 (not felt) to 7.0 (extreme damage to buildings and land surfaces). They can go even higher, as they have in up-to-date deep quakes in Alaska.
Here's what's happening in Puget Sound: about 300 kilometers or more out from the coast is where the deep quakes are generated. There's a ridge 500 to 700 kilometers out called the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and new material, new sea floor, is being deposited all the time along it. It pushes the Juan de Fuca plate toward the North American plate underneath the Seattle area. The Juan de Fuca plate moves an median of two inches a year, towards us, lifting the other plate.
A border zone locks it up, an interface between the two plates that stops the oceanic plate, manufacture it subduct beneath us, forcing the ocean plate down into the mantle of the Earth. This boundary is called the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and extends from the middle of Vancouver Island in British Columbia down to Northern California.
The Earth's mantle lies beneath its brittle crust. It's semi-solid, due to astronomical heat and pressure. "Our Cascade volcanoes are probably there because of plate subduction beneath us. The push deforms the crust and builds up astronomical stresses. Right now, the coast of Washington is rising. It's bulging up." The oceanic plate is "cold rock" and the shock of the two soldiery meeting leads to deep earthquakes. Washington has recently experienced two large ones, in 1949 and 1965.
A flyer from the lab states that approximately 1,000 earthquakes per year are recorded in Washington and Oregon. "Between one and two dozen of these cause sufficient ground shaking to be felt by residents. Most are in the Puget Sound region, and few cause any real damage. However, based on the history of past damaging earthquakes and our comprehension of the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest, we are obvious that damaging earthquakes (magnitude 6.0 or greater) will recur in our area, although we have no way to predict whether this is more likely to be today, or years from now." Steele thinks it will be soon.
"In 1949, there was a severe earthquake in Olympia, 7.1. Eight population were killed and there was millions of dollars worth of property damage. The quake was settled 70 kilometers deep.
"In 1965, there was a magnitude 6.5 quake between Seattle and Tacoma." Both earthquakes were felt as far away as Montana. But there were no aftershocks, as is usual during a deep quake. The infamous aftershocks, known to catch population in the middle of recovering from a bad earthquake, happen during land-based shallow earthquakes. The ocean-based shocks occurred once, causing ground tremors that lasted some minutes. "The 1965 quake killed about five people, and again there was millions of dollars of property damage." Other deep events, difficult to fancy from records of the times, occurred in 1882, 1909, and 1939. "Every 35 years or so a 6.0+ magnitude quake occurs beneath Puget Basin. The whole region along the coast will shift at once. When it ultimately builds up sufficient pressure to kick up, it'll be a big one."
Eighty percent of the quakes on the planet happen along the Pacific North West Rim, which is referred to as "The Ring of Fire" because of all our volcanic activity. In 1964, one year before this area's last big event, south-central Alaska generated a monster 9.3 quake, shaking the ground for twenty minutes, generating tidal waves that decimated Seward's coast, affected 34,000 quadrate miles, and killed 143 people. And there's been up-to-date large quakes in Cape Mendecino, California, and Parkfield, California, infamous for ground shaking, in 1992.
Brian Atwater of the Usgs (United States Geological Service) and the Uw geology group has done studies along the coasts of Washington and Oregon. He's found a kind of layered soil..."what he found...ghost forests killed by the last big quakes. Subduction zone material covered by base black sand." A layer slowly turned into forest floor and then the sand layer. "As bulging continues, coastline rises, and low-lying areas are flushed clean by salt water. Stress released during the quake makes the coastline subside by seven or eight feet. It 'drops.' If you're living at five feet above sea level, it's not a very comfortable thing."
Earthquakes also create large tsunamis, or tidal waves; the biggest ones, generated by larger quakes, can rip up an whole coastline for miles, wiping out bridges, roads, and buildings. The indeed great subduction zone quakes, 9.0 or more, only occur about once a century on the face of the planet. Strangely, a big quake may follow in only about three-and-a-half minutes worth of strong ground shaking, which doesn't sound like much. "One up-to-date California quake was only seventeen seconds of strong ground motion, a 7.1 quake. A 7.0 quake releases the equivalent of 199,000 tons of Tnt in energy; a 9.0 releases 200 million tons, or 17,000 atomic bombs' worth of force.
"The contrast between an 8 and a 9 is greater than the contrast between a 2 and an 8, because of the logarithmic scale. The force increases exponentially. It gets 30 times greater each time." I wondered if it ever goes up to 10.0.
By carbon-14 dating organic matter in ground and sea levels, "scientists can resolve approximate dates for events going back 10,000 years." finding clues about these earthquakes involves both painstaking explore and educated guesswork.
Research has recently identified a Seattle fault which generated a large quake between 1,000 to 1,100 years ago. "There were landslides, and a huge seiche-when something big falls in the water, creating waves like tsunamis. Large block landslides occurred in forests. Rehabilitation Point on Bainbridge Island rose twenty feet from Puget Sound in seconds during that event."
Buildup from glacial ice sheets once outside the continent make it difficult to analyze shallow crust faults. But geologists are pretty sure there are two major Seattle faults. The biggest one runs from the north tip of Mercer Island straight through Eastgate to the Kingdome, just north of West Seattle. The other fault runs straight through White Center, parallel to the bigger one. In 1872, an estimated 7.3 shallow quake caused what seismologists call "felt reports" from observers, the only evidence of some older quakes. Native Americans tell legends about what must have been some very sizeable earthquakes and tsunamis.
Nowadays, all the real-time telemetry (automatic transmission of data from a distant source to a receiving station) comes straight through in the back of the lab, where Steele poured me a cup of Starbucks coffee at their metal sink in a very equipment-crowded space. "Relays 'zap' activity vigor in nanoseconds to the lab. Before population in a region know what's going to hit them, we do." The helicorders monitor 23 stations on analog. "We focus on volcanoes. All stations, including the ones on helicorders, go onto the computer principles in the next room. The discriminator in the back takes Fm carrier signals and separates them from seismic signals, leaving an amplified seismic signal. It goes to the front room, changing into digital facts the computer can read.
"If it picks up a 'jump' (a skip in the needle on the helicorder) on a station, it checks other stations and records all data, whether there's a signal or not. If it's a big quake, it does estimates of the magnitude etc. Via programs, beeps the population (like Steele), and sends facts to seismologists colse to the region." Steele might hear a "beep" anytime.
As I drank my coffee, Steele told me he was a grad student, his life's partner works, and together they sustain their family, renting a house in Wallingford and raising two kids. "It's a rewarding job, but...the rewards are not monetary." Nonetheless, he feels treated as a colleague by everyone, and has a good working association with all his "fellows at the lab."
About earthquake preparedness, Steele is adamant. "The secret is not fear and loathing in Seattle, and that we have to hide under our beds. Let's get ready. Our schools need to get to the point where we can withstand a 7.4 earthquake. How many wee bodies do we need under bricks before we start spending some money?" Right now, there are no exact laws enforcing earthquake construction codes, "if the construction code years ago said you could pile bricks without mortar on top of each other."
Unreinforced masonry creates structures that fall during even moderate earthquakes. "The whole wall of a school can fall down and kill students. A brick that falls three stories doesn't slow down," he said, referring to the death of a boy during the 1965 earthquake. Steele is obvious such deaths are preventable.
At least six schools in Oregon have unreinforced structures, bricks that can fall and fill a doorway, blocking the exit. "Retrofit them, or tear them down and build another school. If a school has been thought about unsafe for a quake lately, they can sell it, and it becomes a senior center. No laws stop that. These buildings need to be brought up to code or taken down. Deaths will happen unless we act. India just had a 6.8 quake...tens of thousands dead. There needs to be water and food stored away to last 72 hours. You need to get under a table and ride it out; get down on the ground, under something; check to see if you smell gas, and turn it off; electricity, too."
You should get to know your community resources, Steele said. And in case of severe aftershocks, if you're in a construction "you should wait until the shaking stops, and then get out." Lots of population are killed by falling debris while evacuating buildings.
What does Steele see in the immediate future? "I expect more of the same. Probably some quakes greater than 4.0 in the Puget Sound area. While we've been talking, there've been events in Klamath Falls,." As I write this, there are aftershocks east of the Dec. 4 "sequence" beginning in Klamath Falls. "The query is, are we going to recognize the danger and do something about it, or are we going to wait until we have an sufficient death toll? I'd like to see a dedicated plan and some leadership from the state. It'll be a lot of money."
Steele said a colleague of his said it best: "The next great disaster will happen as soon as we forget about the last one."
What to do other than screaming your lungs out...fall down!
Apparently, you may hear a very loud, construction sound before the frenzy begins. The below is from "How to Survive in Earthquake Country," a Fema pamphlet. Find out about your risks, at home, and in your workplace. Get more specifics from the American Red Cross, or Fema.
Learn what causes injuries: parts falling off construction exteriors and interiors; flying pieces of broken glass; overturning bookcases; unanchored water heaters; warehouse facilities; anyone made of glass; fires from damaged gas lines; galvanic lines; wood stoves; chimneys; toxic fumes.
Create crisis preparedness plans: find safe spots in your home; recognize leave routes; plan two ways out of each room; pick two places to meet, outside your house and outside the neighborhood if you can't return home; show everyone how to shut off water, gas and electricity; custom your plans, now.
Read "Your family Disaster Plan," and "Emergency Preparedness Checklist," which you can get from Fema.
Reduce earthquake hazards: evaluate your home; strap water heaters and gas appliances down; remember, stiff items snap; place heavy objects on lower shelves; anchor everything heavy; anchor hanging objects; sustain community earthquake preparedness.
Businesses, schools, daycares, neighborhoods, churches, clubs: hold workshops. Assemble a disaster preparedness kit: store food, water, clothes, a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, and batteries, good for 72 hours of use, in your car trunk, home, and office. For more details, consult the Fema brochure, "Your family Disaster Supplies Kit."
During/after an earthquake: stay calm; don't panic or run. Earthquakes are usually preceded by loud sounds, so take quick action. You indeed have about two seconds, so get ready for that earthquake now to protect yourself and others. Stay where you are: drop, cover and hold something solid, or take immediate cover under a heavy desk or table, in a doorway, hallway, or against inside walls. Turn away from glass. Keep away from chimneys, windows, tall bookcases, and objects that might fall.
Evacuate only after the shaking stops. Use the stairs, not the elevator. Remember, aftershocks may occur at any time. Listen to a radio or Tv for instructions. Outdoors: move away from buildings, trees, and utility wires. Sit on the ground until the shaking stops. Flee inland immediately when near a coastline. Check for injuries. Do not move seriously injured population unless they're in danger. Indoors: evacuate damaged buildings, as aftershocks could cause added damage, or buildings can collapse.
Do not re-enter a construction until it's declared safe by responsible authorities. Don't use the telephone except for emergencies; stay off the phone. Check for fires. Have a fire extinguisher, and know how to use it. Check utilities: gas, electric, and water lines may be broken. Gas: do not use matches, candles, open flames or galvanic switches indoors, because of inherent gas leaks. If you smell gas, open windows, leave, and shut off the main gas valve, which is usually outside.
Electricity: if wiring is broken, shut off electricity at the main switch. Don't touch anyone near downed or damaged lines. Water: if water pipes are broken, shut off the contribute at the main valve outside. Use water from ice cubes, water heaters, toilet tanks (if they don't contain chemical cleaners). Clean up spills. Attend thought about to spills of potentially harmful materials such as medicines, drugs, and household cleaners. contribute sufficient ventilation, as chemicals may consolidate to produce toxic gas. Remember to aid others in need.
Finally, please remember to keep current on the "stats" regarding earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters in your area, so you have a pretty good idea what to do - in the likely event you will have to suffer straight through one. And also remember: it's not your fault. (Sorry about that, I couldn't resist the joke.)
If Puget Sound is Falling Down - Earthquake StudiesThe Tokyo area is at the intersection of three tectonic plates (the Philippine plate, the Eurasian plate and the North American Plate) and is one of the most seismic active regions in the world. This region has been nicknamed the Belt of Fire. On mean an earthquake can be felt every day. Most, however, are negligible.
Some, however, are highly virulent: September 1, 1923, the great earthquake of Kanto kills over 140 000 people and leaves nearly 2 million people without shelter. Its magnitude was measured at 7.9 on the Richter scale. This phenomenon can be explained when the three tectonic plates lack of inertia, released an excessive accumulation of energy, and once in motion, was the source of the devastating earthquake. If the three plates were to collide, which is unrealistic but possible, the power released would be such that nothing could resist destruction.
According to the explore group tokyo Team, a violent earthquake occurs every 400 years. There would be 0 5% opportunity that such an earthquake will occur within 30 years. There would, however be a 30% opportunity that a less violent earthquake which will still cause wide damage will occur in the same time period. The most violent earthquake in up-to-date years took place in 2005 and was a magnitude of 5.9 on the open Richter scale, causing panic but no casualties and only moderate damage.
Tokyo has the newest technological advances in earthquake prevention, like those high-tech structure resting on weighty steel springs to Ant. Eject most of the seismic waves, and thus limit the risk of collapse. Despite these devices, an earthquake of magnitude 7, would kick off causing huge losses, both human and material.
Seismic performance in and around Tokyo, JapanWhy are all these major Earthquakes Happening you ask? Well there is a lot of investment after the two modern huge Earthquakes in New Zealand honestly leveling half the city of Christ Church and sounding suburbs. And then a massive Earthquake hit off the North East coast of Japan. The news of the quake went world-wide online in minutes, as the Tsunami Warning Alarms went off.
In fact, here in Los Angeles Ca, we know all too well how deadly such an Earthquake can be, and this one in Tokyo was no slight rumble - it was nearly a 9.0 - so it was massive. Abc Channel 7 in Los Angeles sent out a Breaking News Alert at 10:30 Pm on Thursday, March 10, 2011, which would be mid-day Japan Friday. The news alert put it like this:
"An 8.9-magnitude earthquake has struck off the northeastern coast of Japan. Japanese television is showing major tsunami damage of cars, trucks, houses, and structure being swept away in the northern part of country. Japan's meteorological group warned that a tsunami as high as 20 feet could attack the coast near Miyagi prefecture."
Later there was more information advent out from the Pacific Warning town for Tsunamis, from the Hawaiian town sending out warnings to many other nations; Tsunami warning was in corollary for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the U.S. State of Hawaii.
Now then, I do not wish to alarm whatever but the magnetic North Pole has been fascinating at about 40 miles per year, and some scientists are beginning to talk telling the world that it isn't Global Warming melting the ice near the pole, it's being caused by the magnetic pole shift causing changes in weather patterns, and also re-distribution of weight, meaning there will be shifts on the major continental plates, and major Earthquake faults, especially on the Pacific Rim of Fire.
Is this what is causing these giant Earthquakes? Well, no one can prove it, and for every scientist that says they are, there are 10 who disagree and ask more empirical evidence and proof. Is this part of the 2012 Apocalypse Theory, well, it does not appear to be, but you can bet folks who are superstitious, or conspiracy theorists will be calling it that, "the end of days" for instance. Right now everyone is told to remain calm and think your humanity, as we all work together to voice order. Please think all this.
Major Earthquake Warning Globally - Japan 8.9 Quake - Beware The Pacific Ring of FireAt first glance, it may appear that we are hitting up obscure topics by covering earthquake coverage when discussing buying homeowners insurance. Ostensibly, it might certainly be the case; in the continental United States, on a state-by-state basis, only a few folks may have the need to buy homeowners insurance with earthquake coverage. To the majority of people, when they are thinking of buying homeowners insurance that would cover earthquakes they think of California. As California is only one state out of 50, why would we write an article of such an obscure nature?
Consider just the single state of California for just a second. California alone, separated from the rest of the United States, has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which would push Canada off the list of the G-8 nations! Of course this does not include other states in the same time zone (Alaska, Oregon and Washington). According to Wikipedia, of the total US population, more than 12% live in the state of California. So it's worth looking at a single state impact.
Given that, both Gudrun and Tcat agree that while considering the topic of an earthquake when buying homeowners insurance may not be a pleasant topic, and it is an important one!
We feel this is important because the standard homeowner's insurance policy does not cover earthquakes. This means if you do not buy homeowners insurance covering this natural disaster, you still owe on the mortgage - for a house that might not even be habitable. So the question becomes, what are your options to buy homeowners insurance that will cover an earthquake? California is such a large real estate market; we will look at the state specifically, first.
California earthquakes made the specific type of natural disaster or a political hot potato. So in September 1996, the state legislatures created the California Earthquake Authority (CEA). While it is publicly managed, it is privately funded. However, that does not mean necessarily that buying homeowners insurance to cover earthquakes from the CEA is a great idea.
You may be able to get a better deal buying homeowners insurance covering earthquakes from a policy that is not from the CEA! Sure, we know that sounds crazy at first. So here's the deal. The policy rates for earthquake insurance from the CEA are factored "across-the-board". This is a great deal if you happen to live on the San Andreas or Hayward Faults. Therefore, if you are one of the many that live between San Francisco/Oakland down to Los Angeles area, we suggest you look at a CEA policy first.
And suppose you live in San Diego County? Sure, the San Andreas Fault is in that general region too. And the fall line is about 30 miles west, way out in the Pacific Ocean! If you are even just inland, say, for example in the Escondido district, the odds of you filing a claim for an earthquake are now less likely. Yet when you are buying homeowners insurance to cover an earthquake you are actually subsidizing the higher risk cities mentioned above!
For that reason, if are not in the relatively small, high-risk area for earthquakes, we advise you to look at buying homeowners insurance for earthquakes outside the CEA market! Of courses it is a good idea to check and get quotes from both sides. And we thought you would like a little insight on a good first step. After all, there are more of you in this situation then there are left-handed people in the United States. And the failure to buy homeowners insurance covering an earthquake is a recipe for disaster.
Yo! It's dark, stuffy and hot inside this little box of electronics. Not only that, we cannot hear you when you talk to us. Send either of us an e-mail to tell us what topics you would like to hear about.
How-To - Buy Homeowners Insurance - Earthquake Coverage