Earthquake Magnitude Facts
9.0 - Causes complete devastation and large-scale loss of life.
8.0 - Very few structures are able to withstand. Underground pipes burst. Large rocks move. Smaller objects are tossed into the air. The earth swallows up some objects.
7.0 – Severe shaking, the ground cracks. Roads shake. Weak buildings fall down. Other buildings are badly damaged.
6.0 - Pictures can fall off walls. Furniture moves. In some buildings, walls may crack.
5.0 - Cars may rock. Glasses and dishes may rattle. Windows may break.
There are about five hundred thousand detectable earthquakes globally every year. While a ten thousand of these can be felt, only a hundred can cause serious damage. These quakes are one of the most dangerous of natural calamities. An earthquake occurs due to the strain put on the ground by the tectonic plates when they get stuck. When this strain increases, the rocks give way and this results in an occurrence of fault lines. The earthquake results in the sudden release of the stored energy in the Earth's crust. This creates seismic waves and results in the shaking or a displacement of the ground. Earthquakes can cause shaking and ground rupture, fires, soil liquefaction, landslides and avalanches and tsunamis.
Further, earthquakes can also cause loss of life, disease, loss of basic amenities, property damage, as well as road and bridge damage, building collapses or the destabilization of the base of the building. Therefore, earthquakes result in personal as well as economic losses.
Steps to consider for an effective emergency response:
- Gather relevant facts about the incident
- Make emergency management decisions (activate appropriate systems)
- Ascertain what resources are needed and available
- Determine security needs and measures
- Release public information
Source publically available information located on the internet. For more visit our website at www.cdpinfo.com
