Note: This is the 3rd day of National Preparedness Month. Follow this year’s campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NatlPrep #BeReady or #PrepMonth hashtags.
This month, as part of NPM24, I’ll be rerunning some updated preparedness essays, along with some new ones.
#18,277
In 2006 the USGS calculated that earthquakes posed a significant risk to 75 million Americans living in 39 States. Since then, populations have changed and/or shifted, ongoing research has uncovered new seismic risks, and geologists have a better understanding of the extent of ground shaking from these quakes.
A 2015 study, published in the journal Earthquake Spectra, nearly doubled – to 143 million - the number of Americans who live or work in areas susceptible to potentially damaging ground shaking (see USGS: Nearly Half Of U.S. Population Exposed to Potentially Damaging Earthquakes).
Last January the USGS unveiled a new seismic risk map (see above), and increased the percentage of the population at risk of experiencing a damaging earthquake to nearly 75% (roughly 240 million people).
Additionally, there are nearly a dozen `very high risk' volcanoes in the continental US (4 in Washington, 4 in Oregon & 3 in California), along dozens of `lesser' threats. While earthquake damage is generally localized, volcanic eruptions can affect property and populations thousands of miles away.
While the `big one' in California (see Dr. Lucy Jones: `Imagine America Without Los Angeles’) remains a possibility, there are other areas in the continental United States equally ripe for a big quake.
- FEMA and the U.S. government conducted a huge drill eight years ago (see FEMA: Cascadia Rising 2016) involving 20,000 people from both the United States and Canada, in order to prepare for a catastrophic M9.0 quake & tsunami off the Pacific coast.
- And in 2011 – during the bicentennial of the four great New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-12 –FEMA and other federal agencies mounted the largest National Level Exercise (NLE) to that date, revolving around a catastrophic earthquake occurring in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) that would involve eight Central U.S. States.
- Perhaps least appreciated is the seismic history of South Carolina, which in 1886 was struck by an (Est. 7.3-7.6 magnitude) quake that devastated much of Charleston, South Carolina. Shaking was felt as far north as Boston, south to Cuba, and west as far as New Orleans.
Even if you don't live or work in the shake zone of one of the events, should a great quake strike any one of them, the economic and societal impacts could easily spread far beyond the damaged area.
Imagine an M8.0 New Madrid quake collapsing major bridges that cross the Mississippi river, buckling the Midwest's railroad tracks and interstate highways, and taking out the dozens of critical natural gas pipelines that snake through that region.
Imagine an M8.0 New Madrid quake collapsing major bridges that cross the Mississippi river, buckling the Midwest's railroad tracks and interstate highways, and taking out the dozens of critical natural gas pipelines that snake through that region.
A quake of that size could impact the transportation of food, the delivery of energy (power, gas, coal, etc.), the national power grid, and the nation's economy in ways we can only partially imagine.
While we can't prevent the next big quake from happening, we can prepare for it.
Working to improve earthquake awareness, preparation, and safety is Shakeout.org, which promotes yearly earthquake drills and education around the country (see A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Going On).
The third Thursday in October (Oct 17th in 2024) is International Shakeout Day, when dozens of states and countries practice earthquake safety. If you live in or near one of these seismically active areas, I would strongly urge you, your family, and your employees take part in these yearly drills.
But after the shaking stops, you'll have to find ways to cope with the aftermath.
While the government will send help, you could find yourself pretty much on your own for several days and living in less than comfortable conditions for weeks.
Ready.gov has preparedness information for earthquakes and other emergencies, but to be effective, you need to prepare before disaster strikes.
The best time to prepare for any disaster is before it happens.
Practice how to protect yourself during earthquakes, with family and coworkers.Make an Emergency Plan: Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated. Make a supply kit that includes enough food and water for several days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle.Being prepared allows you to avoid unnecessary excursions and to address minor medical issues at home, alleviating the burden on urgent care centers and hospitals.
Remember that not everyone can afford to respond by stocking up on necessities. For those who
can afford it, make essential purchases and slowly build up supplies.
Protect Your Home: Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.Consider making improvements to your building to fix structural issues that could cause your building to collapse during an earthquake
Consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy. A standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage.
For some older blogs on earthquake preparedness, both here in the United States, and around the world, you may wish to revisit:
California Quakes : Concrete Concerns
Estimating The Economic Impact Of A San Andreas Quake
USGS/OGS Joint Statement On Increased Earthquake Threat To Oklahoma
