PROJECT ONE EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS As the head of one of our city’s departments, you have been invited to a multi-level marketing party at the Governor’s mansion. As part of the welcoming speech by the Governor, you are told a bit about our city’s history. A small band native people (known as the Seisms) lived in the region, but never built permanent structures where is our town is now centered. The Seisms called the area Teh-emblo-rhils. Explorers reached the area about 150 years ago and finding the land fertile, and the climate suitable, began to build a town. One of the early settlers translated the Seism name for the area to mean “Swiftly flowing waters which move past gently rolling hills”. Since the translation so aptly described the area, the Seism name was quickly adopted, although it was slightly westernized in the process. Thus our city is now known as Temblor Hills. As soon as the Governor finished his introductory speech, an elderly Seisms chief approached. With a concerned tone in his voice, the chief explained that the translation was wrong and that there was a good reason why the Seisms didn’t stay in the area permanently. The actual translation should have been “Raging waters that sweep over violently shaking hills”. Hearing this, the Governor hastily reorganized the gathered department heads to begin the process of determining what to do. The Problem: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) performed an emergency survey of the area at the Governor’s request. They found a large fault zone directly beneath the city, with many subordinate faults in association with the main fault. Based on geologic records and current measurements, the USGS determined that the maximum credible earthquake within our city limits is magnitude 7.8. There is great uncertainty about the frequency of large seismic events. Many structures are more than 30 years old and since there were no perceived seismic hazards present at the time of construction, it is believed that significant damage could occur during even a small to moderate earthquake (magnitude 5.0 to 7.0). The citizens are ill-informed of seismic dangers at this time. The Setting: The topography of the region is characterized by low lying hills to the east with a gently sloping plain that meets the ocean at Tsunami Bay. The town is situated predominantly on the plain between the Richter River to the south and the Seism River to the north. The population of the affected region is around 400,000, and is growing at a moderate pace. There is some light to moderate industrial activity in the town. A large international shipping port is located at Tsunami Bay. A railroad system provides the bulk of our land-based shipping, and a commuter rail system shares some of the same tracks within the city limits. A modern airport is located across the Seism River that handles approximately 35 flights per day of large carriers, plus numerous flights of small aircraft. The airport also provides international service on a limited basis, about five flights per week. About 60% of our electricity is generated at the Seiche Dam which is located on a canyon of the Richter River approximately 5 miles from the city. The reservoir impounded by the dam also provides nearly all of our drinking water. The city maintains three water wells within the city, but because of the concern for saltwater intrusion, they are only operated on an emergency basis, and are tested annually. The remainder of our electricity is generated by the nuclear power plant located to the south of the Richter River. The nuclear power plant obtains its coolant and process water from the river, except during periods of low water discharge from the dam. During those times, the water is supplied by underground pipes that run to the plant from the dam. Adjacent to the nuclear power plant is a large tank farm for the storage of various grades of petroleum products that are offloaded at the port. We have fully equipped and trained police and fire departments. The fire department equipment includes a fireboat to protect the port facilities. A well-staffed hospital is centrally located in the downtown area and has limited heliport capabilities. All power, water, sewer, cable TV, telephone and natural gas lines are buried underground within the city limits. There are several elementary and junior high schools in town. There is one large high school that is home to the best maintained football field and gymnasium. The primary schools have much smaller playgrounds, and no gymnasiums. The pride of our downtown area is the new Civic Center. The large complex is composed of conference, banquet and hotel rooms, restaurants, a theater, and a main exhibition hall. The city has put forth a great effort to attract conventions to the Civic Center with much success. The Civic Center averages three conventions or large gatherings per month. The residential area is generally to the east of downtown, however some of the older homes are located within the business district. There are a few large apartment complexes which are sprinkled around the city. Residential structures are divided thus, approximately 60% single family homes, 10% duplexes, 30% apartment complexes. The Solution: As the head of one of the city’s departments, you have been requested to prepare your department and our city for the maximum credible earthquake. You will work individually and in small groups to prepare your plan. The written plan for your department will be turned in for grading purposes. You choose the format. Part I: The Basic Outline of Your Plan for Temblor Hills: Identify what you already know – your department’s capabilities, assets and limitations and particular hazards you may face, along with those of our city as they relate to your department. Identify what you need to know – prioritized information that you need to acquire to effectively deal with this situation. Identify what you’d like to know – items or information that you’d like to have if time and money were no object. Identify the steps you will take to prepare your department and, in cooperation with other departments, our city. Indicate how you will allocate your resources in completing these steps (manpower, finances, timing). This will include instructions to employees as to what they will do before, during, and after an earthquake. If you have agreements with other departments, it must be included here. Identify the steps you would like to take if time and money were no object, OR identify areas of concern that you are not able to mitigate effectively. Part II: Your Personal Plan for Your Real Life Situation: Outline steps you can (or will) take to mitigate hazards around your home or office before an emergency. The plan should be general enough to accommodate a variety of possible emergencies (earthquake, fire, flood, etc). Include your floor plan drawing with the hazards identified (see attachment). List the contents of what you would (or will) include in an emergency kit. Develop a plan for yourself and your family that you will follow in the event of an emergency. Include important phone numbers, meeting places, contact names, evacuation routes, and any other information that might be specific to your situation. I UST ALR EA ND R A I APT APT R H R IV R IC TE R E R EIS S M RIVE TSUNAMI BAY TANK FARM HIG WAY H RA D ILROA SEICHE DAM RESERVOIR PORT FACILITY R A UCL A N E L NT P AIRPORT TERMINAL PARKING T R S D N A A EA E E I L I R S B S NE S D S R CT U I I T I C CIVI C N E E T R P COM LEX FD FD PD HOSP E CH S L C L E H S E CHL S E SCHL L H CH S S L H CH A E ION PA K R G L R H G A I HW Y I RA LROAD HILLS HILLS TEMBLOR HILLS FD = FIRE DEPARTMENT PD = POLICE DEPARTMENT E SCHL = ELEMENTARY SCHOOL H SCHL = HIGH SCHOOL APT = APARTMENT COMPLEX = HIGHWAY = SURFACE STREETS = RAILROAD Waste Water Treatment Plant Sanitary Landfill EARTHQUAKES This assignment may be used to fulfill one journal entry (modeling type). 1. Draw a floor plan to scale of your home showing all primary rooms, doorways, exits, windows, etc. 2. Identify potential hazards in and around your home and indicate them on the floor plan. Use a color or number code for the hazards and include a key to explain what the colors or numbers signify. Example: Number 1 (or color red) indicates a danger of falling objects 3. Write out a list of the five (5) main hazards and a brief explanation as to why they pose a hazard. Example: Gasoline container in shop. It is on a shelf in a glass jar near the propane water heater. If it fell and broke it could lead to an explosion and fire. 4. Rank the significance of the five (5) main hazards and explain your ranking as it relates to your exposure. Example: Hazard #1 – Gasoline container in shop. I spend part of my day (five hours per day on average) in the garage making cabinets. I have a long exposure period to this potential hazard. Humans are incompatible with uncontrolled fire. 5. Pick the top three (3) hazards and list some specific steps you can take to remove or reduce the threat of the hazard. Example: Mitigation for Hazard #1 Put gasoline in a proper container (plastic or metal, and properly labeled). Move container away from source of ignition. Store container such that it is not likely to fall and break. Move to lower shelves or floor.
