PREPAREDNESS FOR EARTHQUAKE AND CYCLONE

J.M. NONGKYNRIH Scientist North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam

DEFINITION OF DISASTERS
A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

Disaster types
Natural Human-induced Man-made

Various types of natural disasters of North East India

What is an Earthquake?
Earthquakes: Vibrations (seismic waves) within Earth materials are produced by the rapid release of energy

Earths crust is in constant motion because of tectonic forces

Earthquake zonation map of India

What causes Earthquakes?

Movement along faults: occurs when the energy exceeds the friction holding the sides of the fault together and is suddenly released. Movement of magma (volcanic) Volcanic eruptions

Measure of Earthquake
Intensity
A measure of the effects of an earthquake at a particular location

Magnitude
A measure of the strength or amount of energy released during an earthquake

How do we Measure Earthquakes?

Richter Scale: Measures the amplitude of earthquake waves on seismograms Scale from 1-10 Each number is 10 times the amplitude of the previous number.

Seismograph

Dos and Donts

What to Do Before an Earthquake
Repair deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs of structural defects. Anchor overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling. Follow BIS codes relevant to your area for building standards

 Fasten cupboards securely to walls.

 Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches.
Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, settees, and anywhere people sit. Brace overhead light and fan fixtures.

Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks.

 Secure a water heater, LPG cylinder etc., by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor.

Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves.

 Identify safe places indoors and outdoors. 1. Under strong dining table, bed 2. Against an inside wall 3. Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over 4. In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, flyovers, bridges Educate yourself and family members

Know emergency telephone numbers (doctor, hospital, police, etc) Have a disaster emergency kit ready

Battery operated torch

Extra batteries

Battery operated radio

First aid kit and manual

Emergency food (dry items) and water

(packed and sealed)

 Candles and matches in a waterproof container Knife Chlorine tablets or powdered water purifiers Can opener. Essential medicines Cash and credit cards Thick ropes and cords and Sturdy shoes

Develop an emergency communication plan

1. In case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster. 2. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the 'family contact' After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.

Help your community get ready

1. Publish a special section in your local newspaper with emergency information on earthquakes. Localize the information by printing the phone numbers of local emergency services offices and hospitals.

2. Conduct a week-long series on locating hazards in the home.

3. Work with local emergency services and officials to prepare special reports for people with mobility impairments on what to do during an earthquake.

4. Provide tips on conducting earthquake drills in the home. 5. Interview representatives of the gas, electric, and water companies about shutting off utilities. 6. Work together in your community to apply your knowledge to building codes, retrofitting programmes, hazard hunts, and neighborhood and family emergency plans.

What to Do 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

Stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If indoors DROP to the ground; Take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture;

HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there

isnt a table or desk near you, cover your face

and head with your arms and crouch in an

inside corner of the building.

DUCK COVER HOLD

Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door, in the corner of a room, under a table or even under a bed.
Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. 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.

Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway.
Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave. Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors
Stay there.

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

Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle
Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

Do not light a match. 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.

After an earthquake
Keep calm, switch on the radio/TV and obey any

instructions you hear on it. Keep away from beaches and low banks of rivers. Huge waves may sweep in. Expect aftershocks. Be prepared. Turn off the water, gas and electricity.

Do not smoke and do not light matches or use a

cigarette lighter. Do not turn on switches. There may be gas leaks or short-circuits.

What are Cyclones?

"Cyclone" is an intense whirl in the atmosphere with very strong winds circulating around it in anticlockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

Cyclones generate intense low pressure areas from the centre of which pressure increases outwards- The amount of the pressure drop in the centre and the rate at which it increases outwards gives the intensity of the cyclones and the strength of winds.

Mechanism of cyclones
A full-grown cyclone is a violent whirl in the atmosphere 150 to 1000 km across, 10 to 15 km high. The central calm region of the storm is called the "Eye". The diameter of the eye varies between 30 and 50 km and is a region free of clouds and has light winds. Around this calm and clear eye, there is the "Wall Cloud Region" of the storm about 5O km in extent, where the gale winds, thick clouds with torrential rain, thunder and lightning prevail.

Mechanism of

formation of Cyclone

 Away from the "Wall Cloud Region", the wind speed gradually decreases. The gales give rise to a confused sea with waves as high as 20 meters, swells that travel a thousand miles. Torrential rains, occasional thunder and lightning flashes - join these
Through these churned chaotic sea and atmosphere, the cyclone moves 300 to 500 km, in a day to hit or skirt along a coast, bringing with it strong surges

Once the cyclones reach higher latitudes they often change their direction and move north and then north-east (south and south east hemisphere). The process is known as recurrence.

Dos and Donts

The actions that need to be taken in the event of a cyclone threat can broadly be divided into four classes, viz., (i) immediately before the cyclone season; (ii) when cyclone alerts and warnings are on; (iii) when evacuations are advised; and

(iv) when the cyclone has crossed the coast.

Before the Cyclone season:

Safety of your house

Check the house; secure loose tiles, carry out repair works for doors and windows

Remove dead woods or dying trees close to the house; anchor removable objects like lumber piles, loose tin sheds, loose bricks, garbage cans, signboards etc. which can fly in strong winds.

Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if needed

Safety check of your house

Simple measures can save life and property

 Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated torches and enough dry cells Demolish condemned buildings Keep some extra batteries for transistors Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for emergency use

When the Cyclone starts

Listen to the radio (All India Radio stations give

weather warnings). Keep monitoring the warnings. This will help you to prepare for a cyclone emergency. Pass on the information to others. Ignore rumors and do not spread them; this will help to avoid panic situations.

Believe in the official information. When a cyclone alert is on for your area continue normal working but stay alert to the radio warnings. Remember that a cyclone alert means that the danger is within 24 hours. Stay alert.

When your area is under cyclone warning get away from low-lying beaches or other lowlying areas.
Leave early before your way to high ground or shelter gets flooded. Do not delay and run the risk of being marooned. If your house is securely built on high ground take shelter in the safer part of the house.

 However, if asked to evacuate do not hesitate to

leave the place. Board up glass windows or put storm shutters in place. Provide strong suitable support for outside doors. If you do not have wooden boards handy, paste paper strips on glasses to prevent splinters. However, this may not avoid breaking windows.

Get extra food, which can be eaten without cooking. Store extra drinking water in suitably covered vessels. If you are to evacuate the house move your valuable articles to upper floors to minimize flood damage. Small and loose things, which can fly in strong winds, should be stored safely in a room.

Have hurricane lantern, torches or other emergency lights in working conditions and keep them handy.

Cyclone Safety Kit

 Make provision for children and adults requiring special diets. If the centre of the cyclone is passing directly over your house there will be a lull in the wind and rain lasting for half and hour or so. During this time do not go out; because immediately after that very strong winds will blow from the opposite direction. Switch off electrical mains in your house. Remain calm.

When Evacuation is instructed

Pack essentials for yourself and your family to last you

a few days, including medicines, special foods for babies and children or elders. Head for the proper shelter or evacuation points indicated for your area.

Do not worry about your property

At the shelter follow instructions of the person in charge.

Remain in the shelter until you have been informed to leave

Post-cyclone measures
You should remain in the shelter until informed that you can return to your home. You must get inoculated against diseases immediately. Strictly avoid any loose and dangling wires from the lamp posts. If you are to drive, drive carefully.

Clear debris from your premises immediately.

Report the correct loss to appropriate authorities.

STRENTHENING ROOFS OF HOUSES

PRESERVING FOOD STUFFS

BAMBOO PLANTATION FOR PROTECTING HOUSES

PROTECTING THE UTENSILS FROM FALLING

PRESERVING THE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

BE PREPARED

THANK YOU