COMPLIANCE INFO_PRE 2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

u 0 Terms associated with earthquakes Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify an earthquake hazard: Earthquake A sudden slipping or movement of a portion of the earth's crust, accompanied and followed by a series of vibrations. Aftershock An earthquake of similar or lesser intensity that follows the main earthquake. Fault The fracture across which displacement has occurred during an earthquake. The slippage may range from less than an inch to more than 10 yards in a severe earthquake. Epicenter The place on the earth's surface directly above the point on the fault where the earthquake rupture began. Once fault slippage begins, it expands along the fault during the earthquake and can extend hundreds of miles before stopping. Seismic Waves Vibrations that travel outward from the earthquake fault at speeds of several miles per second. Although fault slippage directly under a structure can cause considerable damage, the vibrations of seismic waves cause most of the destruction during earthquakes. Magnitude The amount of energy released during an earthquake, which is computed from the amplitude of the seismic waves. A magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter Scale indicates an extremely strong earthquake. Each whole number on the scale represents an increase of about 30 times more energy released than the previous whole number represents. Therefore, an earthquake measuring 6.0 is about 30 times more powerful than one measuring 5.0. Earthquake preparedness 1. Conduct "Duck, Cover and Hold" drills twice a year (April and October) to help train people to stay calm and react instinctively. 2. if all phones are down, be aware that pay phones may still work (they are on a higher operational priority). 3. In a medical emergency during a severe earthquake, be aware that most ambulances will not be available to the general public. 4. Lower all heavy objects located up high and fasten tall furniture, such as bookshelves, to the walls (anchored to studs).