Tectonic disaster case studies (HIC/LIC)

Primary impact - Occur as a direct result of the ground shaking e.g. buildings collapsing

Secondry impact - Occur as a result of the primary impacts e.g. fires due to gas leaks

Magnitude - Refers to the size of the earthquake

Immediate response - Up to 4 days after the disaster

Long term response - More than 4 days after the disaster

Economic impacts - Effect on the economy including businsses and cost to repair damage

Social impacts - Effect on people and their lives

Environmental impact - Effect on the natural environment (plants and animals)

Loma Prieta - The epicenter of the earthquake. Near San Jose, California.

Magnitude - 6.9 on the richter scale

Economic impact          Social impact          Emergency response

• 5 - 6 billion dollars of damge
• Emergency services deployed
• People ordered to evacuate/ make use of the resources they have
• 69 people died, 4000 injured
• Builing and infrastructure damage - businesses destroyed
• 12,000 people homeless
• Members of the public volunteer to rescue people and put out fires
• Limited supplies of electricity and water

In 2008, the US Geological survey (USGS) said there was a 99% of a magnitude 6.7 or higher hitting California in the next 30 years. As a result of this statement, building regulations became stricter, especially in public buildings such as schools and hospitals. Billions have also been spent to reinforce bridges and infrastrcture. 

Magnitude - 7.0 on the richter scale & lasted 35 seconds

Eight hospitals and health care centers were badly damaged --> Unable to support the injured, leading to more deaths. Hospitals are expensive to rebuild.

Main shipping port was badly damaged and part collapsed into the sea --> No income from trade so can't afford to rebuild. No aid can reach Haiti through the port.

Immediate response

• Charities and governments sent teams of specially trained teams to find people who are trapped
• Charities and governments sent hundreds of thousands of tents for victims to live in (519,000 still do)

Long term response

• Charities and governments sent engineers to universities to help train people in Haiti to build resistant structures and infrastructure
• Governments who have lent Haiti money in the past gave them a 5 year break in debt repayments, allowing them more time and providing them more money to rebuild
• Charities are helping train people to farm the land, so that they will be able to provide food for themselves