What should our students and citizens know about earthquake preparedness? Certainly, the earthquake in China is prompting us to be able to answer these questions. I’ve only experienced three earthquakes, once many years ago in Columbus, Ohio, years later in San Francisco, and in the year 2000 in Seattle. The worst of these was in Seattle, but nothing compared to the Sichuan Province quake of May 12.

Earthquake preparedness involves both preparedness and response. The USGS (United State Geological Survey) has an extensive earthquake hazards program that provides the knowledge and tools to help people become aware of preparedness and response, and also how government create regulations about building construction, and links to help with response after a quake. Constructing buildings that are earthquake “resistant” is probably one of the most important factors in determining whether a building, school, or home will survive a severe earthquake. Here is a video that highlights this idea.

NBC showed a video that focused on a small village about 60 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. It opens with a scene (after the quake) at an elementary school, which was not damaged at all by the earthquake. Then it shifts to another school, and a family which lost their 13 year old child. The father asks, “why.” Why did the school his daughter attended collapse and kill all 400 students, and another in the same village survive.

Millions of people live in areas that are prone to earthquakes. Preparing for an earthquake involves knowing why and where earthquakes are prone to occur. The Sichuan Province of China is prone to earthquakes. So are many places around the world. One source that I find very help in understanding earthquakes, and other earth-related phenomena is the Digital Library for Earth System Education. I did a search at this site for “why earthquakes” and got back ten very good sites that you might use to share with your students.

The map below shows the distribution of earthquakes around the world. The red area highlights areas that earthquake prone areas.

The red areas indicate areas where earthquakes are very prone to occur. Although less likely, earthquakes can occur in most any area of the earth.

From China to California and other Regions of the U.S.

As indicated above, the Sichuan Province of China is a very earthquake prone area. So are many parts of the U.S. Everyone living along the coast of California lives near the interface of two very large crustal plates, the Pacific and North American plates. This interface is known as the San Andreas Fault (see the map below.) The San Andreas Fault runs northward along the coast of California. The large arrows show the relative movement of the “plates” on either side of the San Andreas Fault.

Here are some further sources to learn about earthquakes and earthquake preparedness.

Tips to Design Earthquake Resistant Structures
Earthquake resistant buildings
Building safer structures (USGS)
Better design standards (USGS)
Los Angeles Fire Department Earthquake Preparedness
Earthquake Preparedness Guide
Living in Earthquake Country