EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

CIEN 3262

WHAT TO DO DURING AND IMMEDIATELY

AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
Prepared by:
BSCE 5-1 (GROUP 14)
Aguiton, Chielo Mae M.
Cruz, Alleli P.
Figueroa, Benjamin E.
During an Earthquake
Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are
actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to
a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and
you are sure exiting is safe.

It is important to take quick action to be safe when the ground first starts to shake.
Don't wait until you're certain an earthquake is actually occurring.

At the first sign of the earth shaking, if you are in a building, stay inside and away from
windows.

Drop, Cover, and Hold on.

DROP under a heavy desk or table,

COVER your head and torso, and

HOLD ON to the furniture. If you can't get under something strong, go to an interior wall
and sit with your bottom and feet flat on the floor and protect your head. If you are
outside, go to an open area.

Stay away from the kitchen. The kitchen is the highest hazard area in the home. There
may be moving appliances and flying dishes. There may be gas or water pipes leaking.
This may lead to fire or flooding.

Don't panic, try to remain calm and reassure others.

Protect head and face

Do not rush for exits. Stairways may be broken and jammed with people.

Do not try to use your telephone/cell phones for the first 90 minutes after an
earthquake, except for serious medical or fire emergency, or if victims are
trapped. You could tie up the lines needed for emergency response.

If you use a wheelchair:

Remain in the chair

Try to avoid falling objects

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If indoors:
Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Take cover under a sturdy desk, table, bench or
bed or against an inside wall and hold on. If there isn't a table or desk near you,
cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the
building.

If you are in bed, stay there. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow,
unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to
the nearest safe place.

If you are in the kitchen, quickly turn off the stove and take cover at the first
sign of shaking.

If you are in a crowded public place, do not rush for the doorways. Others will
have the same idea and trampling may occur.

If you are in a store or shop move away from display shelves containing
bottles, cans, or other objects that may fall.

If you are in a high-rise building, stay in the building on the same floor.
Evacuation may not be necessary. Do not use elevators as power may fail.

If you are at school, Drop, Cover, and Hold ON. Remain in place until the
shaking stops. COUNT ALOUD to 60 (earthquakes rarely last longer than 60
seconds and counting is calming)

If you are in the school walkways, stairways and other areas where no cover
is available, move to an interior wall; kneel with back to wall; place head close to
knees; clasp hands behind neck; and cover side of head with arms.

If you are in the library, move away from where books and bookshelves may
fall and take cover. Stay inside, usually the most dangerous place is just outside
where building debris may fall; exit only after the shaking has stopped.

If you are in the science laboratories, extinguish all burners, if possible,

before taking cover; stay away from hazardous chemicals that may spill.

Don't try to run out of the building. Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe
to go outside. Most injuries during earthquakes occur when people are hit by
falling objects when entering into or exiting from buildings.

Move away from outer walls, windows, glass doors, heavy mirrors, pictures,
bookcases, hanging plants and heavy objects

Watch for falling plaster, bricks, lighting fixtures and other objects

Do not use candles, matches, or other open flame either during or after the
tremor because of possible gas leaks.
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 Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms
may turn on.

Never take shelter by standing in external doorways. Shelter in internal

doorways only if there is no other option for protective shelter such as a table or
a desk.

If outdoors:
Stay there unless it is unsafe.

Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and utility wires.

Assume the crouch position and protect your head and face with your arms until
the shaking stops.

If you are in a vehicle:

Pull over to the side of the road (to keep the road clear for emergency vehicles),
and stop as quickly as safety permits.

Safely bring the vehicle to a stop away from electricity poles and overhead
wires.

Don't stop on a bridge or close to buildings from which debris may fall.

Avoid stopping near or under trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

Stay inside your vehicle.

Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped, watching for road and
bridge damage, fallen or falling objects or downed electric wires.
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Triangle of Life
The Triangle of Life is a controversial theory about how to survive a major earthquake,
typically promoted via viral emails. The theory advocates methods of protection very
different from the mainstream advice of "drop, cover, and hold on" method widely
supported by reputable agencies. In particular, the method's developer and key
proponent, Doug Copp, recommends that at the onset of a major earthquake, building
occupants should seek shelter near solid items that will provide a protective space, a void
or space that could prevent injury or permit survival in the event of a major structural
failure, a "pancake collapse", and specifically advises against sheltering under tables.

Officials of many agencies, including the American Red Cross and the United States
Geological Survey, have criticized the "Triangle of Life" theory, saying that it is a
"misguided idea" and inappropriate for countries with modern building construction
standards where total building collapse is unlikely.

Theory
According to Copp's theory, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon
the objects or furniture inside tends to crush them, but the height of the object that remains
acts as a kind of roof beam over the space or void next to it, which will tend to end up with
a sloping roof over it. Copp terms this space for survival as the triangle of life. The larger
and stronger the object, the less it will compact; the less it compacts, the larger the void
next to it will be. Such triangles are the most common shape to be found in a collapsed
building.

Criticisms
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Triangle of Life is a
misguided idea about the best location a person should try to occupy during an
earthquake. Critics have argued that it is actually very difficult to know where these
triangles will be formed, as objects (including large, heavy objects) often move around
during earthquakes. It is also argued that this movement means that lying beside heavy
objects is very dangerous. Statistical studies of earthquake deaths show most injuries and
deaths occur due to falling objects, not structures.
Also, given that there are no warnings for earthquakes, a person is more likely to be injured
trying to move during an earthquake rather than immediately seeking a safe space by
furniture, or near an interior wall, not doorways, as they are often not structural. Different
architectural standards in different countries mean that the best strategy for earthquake
survival could also be different, however for the United States, "Drop, Cover, and Hold
On" is recommended.
An Iranian peer-reviewed article analyzed and compared both methods in detail,
considering their application, the extent of people who are under the coverage, simplicity
in transferring concepts, and the probability of reducing casualties and damage in
developing countries such as Iran. It argued that "Drop, Cover and Hold on" was useful
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advice for people who experience smaller earthquakes without total building collapse,
which is the vast majority of earthquake survivors. It found that the "Triangle of life"
theoretically could be a better strategy during larger earthquakes in buildings with a
skeleton (wood or concrete) during a building pancake-type collapse, but acknowledged
the possible problems of large objects shifting and crushing the person from horizontal
movement, inability to predict which side of an object would create a survivable space,
and that the triangle of life method is also difficult to teach and communicate. It concluded
that the "Triangle of Life" could harm individuals who attempted to follow the advice in
buildings that did not collapse. Neither strategy was useful for the majority of the
population in rural Iran because of the mud-brick architecture which has no structure.
Based on the simplicity of teaching and the fact that 12,000 times more people are affected
by smaller earthquakes and injured, they concluded that "Drop, Cover and Hold On" is still
regarded as a better option for people during an earthquake.

Testing

In 1996, Copp claims to have made a film to prove this methodology and to have recreated
a model school and home, filling them with 20 mannequins. The buildings were collapsed
by earthmoving equipment that knocked the supporting pillars out. Half the mannequins
were in "Duck and Cover" positions and the others in Copp's "Triangle of Life" positions.
When Copp and his crew re-entered the building after the blast, they calculated that there
would have been no survivors among the mannequins in "Duck and Cover" positions, but
100% survival for those hiding in the triangles beside solid objects. Copp is categorical
about the importance of this technique, saying "Everyone who simply ducks and covers
when buildings collapse is crushed to death - every time without exception."
However, a critic of Copp has stated that this was a rescue exercise rather than an
experiment. Additionally, the exercise did not simulate the lateral movement of
earthquakes, instead causing a pancake collapse, which is more common in areas of
extremely poor construction and rare in developed countries. The critic concluded that
Copp's results are therefore misleading.

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After an Earthquake
Dos:
Check for fires

Check Utilities - shut off if necessary

Check your house for serious damage - evacuate if there's threat of collapse

Check for injuries - administer First Aid

Be prepared for more earthquake tremors or aftershocks

Turn on a transistor radio for emergency bulletins.

Stay away from landslide-prone areas.

Stay away from buildings that may have been damaged or weakened by the
earthquake

Keep the streets clear for the passage of emergency and rescue vehicles.

Clear up hazardous materials

Cooperate fully with public safety officials.

Assist others

Don'ts:
Don't light a match or turn on a light switch. Use a flashlight!

Never touch fallen power lines

Don't go to the beach to watch for giant sea waves

Don't go sightseeing! Keep the streets clear for the passage of emergency and
rescue vehicles

Don't attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in danger of
further injury

Don't use your telephone, except for a medical or fire emergency.

Don't expect firefighters, police, army or other emergency personnel to help you.
They may not be available.
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If you are trapped under debris:
Do not move about or kick up dust.

Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is
available. Shout only as a last resort - shouting can cause you to inhale
dangerous amounts of dust.