Earthquake disaster preparednes services
Previous earthquake disaster preparedness projects have included:
This involves examining the seismic hazard in which a building is located and analysing the building structurally in terms of its design, construction and materials, in terms of international standards (e.g. FEMA) and local Building Codes, as appropriate. This work is undertaken by experienced Earthquake Engineers in association with the National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET), Nepal, and other organisations as required.
Where buildings are found to be non-resistant or have insufficient resilience to an expected earthquake of a given magnitude (e.g. a ‘design’ earthquake), remedial measures can be designed and costed for subsequent retrofitting, or in extreme cases, demolition and reconstruction.
Non-structural vulnerability assessment of buildings and advice on mitigationSignificant numbers of casualties occur from objects falling or toppling within the home, office or public buildings. By reviewing the contents of buildings and their disposition within each room, the overall vulnerability of the occupants of that building can be reduced substantially. This has the benefit of reducing the number and severity of casualties, decreasing avoidable internal damage to buildings, and increasing the speed by which a community returns to a sense of post-earthquake normality.
Earthquake preparedness trainingExperience in earthquake prone areas like Japan and California suggests that when people know how to prepare for an earthquake, the number of casualties can be reduced by over a third compared with unprepared communities. Our training day has been carefully developed to help delegates prepare before an earthquake, know how to behave during an earthquake, and what to do after an earthquake. This also involves developing family and personal earthquake kits and having an emergency plan and knowing how to use them all.
Example feedback from delegates at our previous earthquake preparedness training courses:
“Excellent course – well presented; really professional
with detailed information.”
“I feel less afraid because I’m more aware of earthquakes
and their effects and how I can make a difference!”
“A good mix of serious talk and humour meant I was engaged
throughout the course.”
“Very informative and useful.”
“Very well done!”
“I’ll take earthquake procedures more seriously now.”
“Enlightening and enjoyable and very interesting.”
“Thank you. This course was great.”
“It has improved my understanding of what is expected from
me and what actions I should take.”
“Great course altogether!”
“Well organised and thought provoking – excellent course.”
“Thanks – simply great!”
In earthquake prone regions, employers have a particular responsibility towards their employees and visitors to ensure their safety wherever possible. Yet it is increasingly the case that most organisations do not have a suitable earthquake emergency response plan, or if they do, it is often out of date or impractical in relation to the likely damage scenarios for relevant design earthquakes. It is essential that organisations have such a plan.
For Diplomatic Missions, this responsibility is even larger as they have consular responsibility for their own nationals – whether resident in country or visiting. It is essential that each Diplomatic Mission should have a well thought out and practical earthquake Emergency Response Plan that all staff and families know and practice regularly. This may include pre-positioning earthquake stores. RGSL has particular expertise in working with Diplomatic Missions in Iran.
This strategic planning can also be up-scaled to regional governments and indeed to national Earthquake Emergency Response Plans. RGSL has considerable experience of working with senior government representatives up to Minister level in developing such plans.
