Impacts of earthquakes

Primary Impacts (immediate

effect of the ground shaking)

Buildings and bridges collapse

Injury and deaths

Roads, railways, airports & ports

damaged

Electricity cut off

Gas pipes break – leaks, cut off,

Telephone poles & cable

destroyed – break down in

communicationsUnderground water & sewage

pipes broken – leaks, cut off

Secondary impactsCAN trigger landslides & tsunamis = more damage, injuries & deathsLeaking gas = firesPeople homelessPsychological problemsShortage of clean water, sanitation – disease spreadsRoads blocked/destroyed – aid and emergency vehicles can’t get throughBusinesses damaged/destroyed = unemployment

Impacts of earthquakes more severe in LEDCs

More poor quality housing – less stable so falls downInfrastructure is poorer – poor quality roads harder for emergency services to get to injured people = more deathsNo money for protection – can’t earthquake proof buildings (rubber shock absorbers)Not enough money or resources –

food, water, emergency services – to react immediately so more affected by secondary impactsHealthcare often worse. Hospitals not enough supplies so more die from treatable injuries

People keep living in earthquake areas – why?Always lived there – don’t want to leave family/friendsEmployed thereConfident of support from government if needed (rebuild homes)Think it won’t happenToo poor to have any choice

Reducing the impacts of earthquakes

Prediction – impossible to predict! But there are clues – lots of small tremors, cracks, strange animal behaviour. CAN predict where they MIGHT happen – data, mapping = preparation for impactsBuilding techniques – buildings can be designed to withstand quakes – reinforced concrete, special foundations = reduced number of collapsed buildings = less injuries, deaths, homeless, unemployedPlanning – avoid building in earthquake areas = reduced number buildings destroyed. Firebreaks reduce spread of fire. Train and prepare emergency services by practising rescues/stockpiling medicines – reduces deaths. Governments plan evacuation routes – get people out safely & quickly – reduces death and injuriesEducation – governments/organisations educate people about what to do (standin doorway, go under tables) how to evacuate = less deaths. Teach how to makesurvival kit – food, water, torch, radio, batteries etc. = reduction in deathsAid – LEDCs receive aid from governments/organisations – food, water, money, survival kits, people. Aid reduces impacts – find people, rebuild homes – reduces homelessness

Reducing the impacts of earthquakes – some strategies are more sustainable than others

Sustainable strategies meet the needs of people today without stopping

people in the future meeting their needs.Not sustainable if:- it isn’t effective (doesn’t work), expensive, harms

the environment1. Predicting is not effective = NOT SUSTAINABLE2. Building techniques, planning, education & aid are effective,

environmentally friendly – SUSTAINABLE

The more cost-effective a strategy is the more sustainable it is.Good planning usually more effective than aid and it is cheaper.Some strategies are expensive (earthquake buildings) but they can be

more sustainable as in the long-term less money and resources are used in rebuilding

Impacts of volcanoes

Primary impacts (immediate)• Buildings and roads

destroyed by lava flows and pyroclastic flows.

• People and animals killed.• Crops damaged and water

supplies contaminated by falling ash.

• People, animals and plants suffocated by carbon dioxide.

Secondary impacts (later on)• Mudflows• Fires started by lava flows.• Psychological problems• People left homeless• Shortage of food.• Shortage of safe water.• Roads blocked or destroyed

so....• Businesses destroyed.• Sulphur dioxide released into

the atmosphere causes acid rain.

Reducing the impacts of volcanoesPrediction –possible to roughly predict when an eruption will happen. Scientists monitor the signs – tiny earthquakes, escaping gas, changes in the shape of the volcano (bulges where magma has built up. Gives people time to evacuate – reduces injuries and deaths.Building techniques –buildings CAN’T be build to withsatand lava or pyroclastic flows, theycan be strengthened so less likely to collapse under the weight of ash. Sometimes lava can be diverted away from buildings using barriers. This reduces the number of buildings destroyed, reduces injuries, deaths, homelessness & unemployment.Planning – avoid building in high risk areas= reduced number buildings destroyed. Firebreaks reduce spread of fire. Train and prepare emergency services by practising setting up emergency camps for homeless people Governments plan evacuation routes – get people out safely & quickly – reduces death and injuries from pyroclastic flows and mudflowsEducation – governments/organisations educate people about how to evacuate – gets people out of danger quickly and reduces deaths. Teach how to make survival kit – food,water, torch, radio, batteries, dustmask etc. = reduction in deathsAid – LEDCs receive aid from governments/organisations – food, water, money, survival kits, people. Aid reduces impacts – rebuild homes – reduces homelessness

Reducing the impacts of earthquakes – some strategies are more sustainable

than othersSustainable strategies meet the needs of people today without stopping people in the future meeting their needs.Not sustainable if:- it isn’t effective (doesn’t work), expensive, harms the environment1. All of the strategies are sustainable – effective and environmentally

friendly2. Predicting eruptions needs special equipment and trained scientists

which makes it expensive but if it is accurate it saves a lot of lives3. Building techniques can be very expensive but can save money if they

stop building destruction

The more cost-effective a strategy is the more sustainable it is.Good planning usually more effective than aid and it is cheaper.Some strategies are expensive (building techniques) but they can be

moresustainable as in the long-term less money and resources are used in rebuilding