Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Long-term responses to Earthquakes
- Improving Infrasturcture
- Infrastructure and amenities are rebuilt
and improved upon after a disaster
- Authorities often develop stricter building codes to
ensure infrastructure is restored at a higher safety
level than before.
- For example, after the earthquake in Kobe, Japan, in 1995, Japan
spent billions developing technology to build more
earthquake-resistant buildings.
- Reinforced buildings, which are built to protect
against earthquakes, are not necessarily protected
against tsunamis. Additional protection could be in
the form of coastal protection structures such as
breakwaters.
- For example, although many of Chile's buildings are
earthquake-resistant, the coastal areas suffered massive
damage from a tsunami when an earthquake struck in
2010.
- Compensating people who lose
their land and property.
- Compensation helps people in
finding another place to settle
down.
- For example, the Japanese insurance plans are
authorised by the government to pay massive
amounts to compensate people who have lost their
land and property.
- Compensations offered are often insufficient. For
example, insurance paid in Japan have an upper
limit. This means that the amount paid to people
who have lost their land and property may not
cover the cost of damgage
- Ensuring the affected region
recovers economically.
- Steps are taken to ensure the
economy recovers.
- The government
stimulates the economy
by introducing various
measures.
- For example, in order to stimulate the local economy after
the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2011,
direct cash payments were made to individuals to allow
them to buy necessities. They also provided income for local
traders. In addition, the New Zealand government
guaranteed bank credit and insurance payments so that
reconstruction could start quickly.
- The recovery of the economy may take a
long time as a huge sum of money is
needed to rebuild infrastructure and
services.
- For example, China took three years to rebuild the
area hit by the earthquake in Sichuan, China, in 2008
and provide people with basic living conditions. A
huge sum of about US$123 billion was spent on
reconstructing schools, hospitals and homes
- Improving health options.
- Health options such as long-term counselling
are provided. The loss of loved ones, homes or
jobs after earthquakes cause long-lasting
trauma.
- Problems can be identified and
addressed early.
- For example, a year after the earthquake in
Chirstchurch, New Zealand, in 2011, significant
problems of anxiety and depression were identified
among all age groups of the affected population.
This resulted in a greater number of health workers
being deployed in the area.
- Improving health options, such as
restoring the resilience of people
after an earthquake, can be very
challenging.
- For example, many survivors, such as those in Haiti
after the earthquake in 2010, continue to lack access to
basic necessities.