Response to Earthquakes (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

• The emergency response are the actions taken immediately after a hazard event such as an earthquake:
  • Searching collapsed buildings to rescue people who are trapped
  • Providing medical assistance
  • Distribution of food and water
  • Ensuring that people have shelter
  • Clearing rubble and other debris
• This response has to be coordinated as many NGOs and government organisations, including the armed forces, may be involved

Nepal  - A Developing Country

• Short-term response criticised for being too slow:
  • The epicentre was not reached by rescue workers for 24 hours
  • Evacuations of the critically wounded took 5 days
• Over US$1 billion in international aid from India and China 
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided a US$3 million grant for immediate relief efforts
• Three Chinook helicopters; 100 search and rescue; medical workers 
• Use of GIS to coordinate the response
• Many NGOs sent aid workers, food, water and medical supplies
• Tent cities in Kathmandu provided shelter for people made homeless
• Nepalese army sent to worst-hit areas
• Inflatable field hospitals set up to treat the injured

Japan - A Developed Country

• Self Defence Forces sent in immediately to organise food, water, shelter and medicines
• Within 48 hours a member of parliament was designated to coordinate the relief effort
• UK sent search and rescue teams 
• NGOs provided shelter, food, water and medical aid
• A state of emergency was declared at the Fukushima nuclear power plant
• Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued warnings just before the more damaging S waves - this gave people a chance to get out of buildings
• A tsunami warning was issued giving people 20 minutes to get to safety 
• Trained emergency crews and the army were on-site rapidly
• Temporary shelters were set up in schools and other public buildings