Earthquake drills and simulations in community-based training and preparedness programmes

The San Francisco, California, bay area is subject to continuous seismic risk. One particular response has been the development of community-based training programmes designed to teach residents basic emergency response skills. Citizens are taught emergency medical techniques, search and rescue, fire suppression and other fundamental response skills. Current estimates in the Bay Area place the number of programmes at more than 100. Many programmes now include an annual community drill to reinforce the training and to evaluate the programme. The study described here is based on an evaluation of an effort initiated by BayNET (Bay Area Neighborhood Emergency Training), a voluntary association of communities with community-based disaster preparedness programmes. In April 1996, BayNET asked all of its members to hold a community earthquake drill. After the drill, a mail survey was conducted of all programme managers. The survey examined the structure and administration of the programmes, training efforts and other related components. This paper describes the typology of drill formats that communities used, the role of the simulation in the city's preparedness efforts, the qualitative costs and benefits, as well as an assessment of the drill based on survey respondents.     

Cross‐cultural comparisons between the earthquake preparedness models of Taiwan and New Zealand

Taiwan and New Zealand are both located in the Pacific Rim where 81 per cent of the world's largest earthquakes occur. Effective programmes for increasing people's preparedness for these hazards are essential. This paper tests the applicability of the community engagement theory of hazard preparedness in two distinct cultural contexts. Structural equation modelling analysis provides support for this theory. The paper suggests that the close fit between theory and data that is achieved by excluding trust supports the theoretical prediction that familiarity with a hazard negates the need to trust external sources. The results demonstrate that the hazard preparedness theory is applicable to communities that have previously experienced earthquakes and are therefore familiar with the associated hazards and the need for earthquake preparedness. The paper also argues that cross‐cultural comparisons provide opportunities for collaborative research and learning as well as access to a wider range of potential earthquake risk management strategies.     

The public health system response to the 2008 Sichuan province earthquake: a literature review and interviews

This paper describes and analyses the public health system response to the deadly earthquake in Sichuan province, China, in May 2008. Drawing on an experiential learning project consisting of a literature review and field research, including a series of interviews with medical and public health professionals, policy‐makers and first responders, a conceptual framework was developed to describe the response. This approach emphasises the pre‐existing preparedness level of the medical and public health systems, as well as social, economic and geo‐political factors that had an impact on mitigation efforts. This framework was used to conduct post‐disaster analyses addressing major response issues and examining methods employed during the public health response to the disaster. This framework could be used to describe and analyse the emergency response to other disasters.     

Risk factors for long‐term post‐traumatic stress disorder among medical rescue workers appointed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake response in China

This study aims to determine the risk factors for clinically‐significant post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Chinese medical rescue workers one year after the response to the Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008. A sample of 337 medical workers who performed response work within the first three months of the event completed an online questionnaire, which included information on demographics, social support, the management and organisation of the disaster response, and an assessment of PTSD. Symptoms consistent with PTSD were prevalent in 17 per cent of the rescue workers. Those who developed PTSD symptoms were more likely to have been injured, experienced a water shortage, been disconnected from family and friends during the response, and have passive coping styles and neurotic personalities. Factors that cannot be changed easily, such as personality traits, should be evaluated prior to deployment to ensure that rescue workers at higher risk of PTSD are provided with adequate support before and during deployment.     

1989～2005年中国启动地震应急预案的研究

制定地震应急预案是地震应急的行动纲领。过去重“救”轻“防”,而且“救”的程序也缺少规范。地震应急预案将“防、抗、救一作了规范．对每个职能部门的应急工作都作了部署。全国地区（市）级颁布地震预案267个,县级颁布地震预案1603个。据不完全统计,1989-2005年,全国共计启动地震应急预案56次。其中,1989～1993年年均启动0．8次,1994-1998年2．2次,1999-2003年4．2次,2004～2005年10次。     

数字江苏中的防震减灾数字系统

为推进经济的可持续与跨越式发展，配合 “数字江苏” 的建设，最大限度地减轻地震灾害所造成的损失，在 “数字江苏” 中建设防震减灾数字系统势在必行。 本文从防震减灾在可持续与跨越式发展战略中的地位和作用、防震减灾数字系统的组成、 “数字江苏” 中如何包含防震减灾数字系统、防震减灾数字系统建设进程及展望等几方面进行了探讨。     

土木工程专业人员在地震应急救援中的作用和参与机制

从我国地震应急救援志愿者队伍现状出发,剖析了我国应急救援存在的土木工程专业技术人员匮乏、志愿者普遍缺乏系统培训及队伍建设缺乏长效机制等主要问题。具体阐述了土木工程专业人员在地震应急救援中的专业优势,提出了建立土木工程专业人员参与地震应急救援长效机制,以填补当前土木工程专业性志愿救援队伍的空白,完善地震应急救援力量的社会参与体系,推动中国志愿者服务体系的健康快速发展。     

日本阪神大震灾在应急救灾上的几点教训

本文从防灾体制、心理准备和防灾规划等方面分析日本阪神大震灾在应急救灾行动中的教训，并结合我国的情况作了简单的讨论。     

基于仿真原理的地震应急志愿者规模研究

中国是个地震多发但应对能力不强的国家,汶川地震再次暴露了中国专业地震应急救援力量不足的弊端。我们应该借鉴发达国家的经验,构建应急志愿者队伍,以提高我国的地震应急能力。根据仿真原理结合人力资源规模的确定方法,设计了地震应急救援系统仿真模型,并利用该模型计算了高校志愿者队伍的人数。该研究不但有助于丰富志愿者管理理论,同时能有效利用社会资源,提升我国地震应急救援能力,因此具有一定的理论和现实意义。     

Urban earthquake hazard: perceived seismic risk and preparedness in Dhaka City,Bangladesh

Bangladesh is vulnerable to seismic events. Experts suspect that if an earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude occurred in large cities of Bangladesh, there would be a major human tragedy due to the structural failure of many buildings. The primary objectives of this paper are to examine seismic risk perception among residents of Dhaka City and investigate their levels of earthquake preparedness. A questionnaire survey conducted among 444 residents of the city provided the major source of data for the paper. The survey results suggest that an overwhelming majority of the respondents were not prepared for a major earthquake, which is anticipated to occur in Dhaka. Multivariate analysis of survey data reveals that value of residential unit and respondent educational levels appear as the most significant determinants of preparedness status of the respondents. This study recommends increasing earthquake awareness and preparedness among residents of Dhaka City.     

大中城市震害预测与辅助决策的空间分析

利用GIS的空间分析功能，对大中城市防震减灾示范研究成果进行了空间区划分析，给出了城市高危害街区的计算方法和结果，同时给出了各种结构类型房屋破坏面积、人员伤亡和无家可归人口数在各个街区的空间分布结果，以及基于此空间分布结果的医疗救护、人员疏散和物资供应等辅助决策分析。该分析的主要意义在于能充分了解大中城市潜在震害的空间分布，为震前采取相应预防措施和震后开展应急救灾工作提供了方便。     

Post-seismic allocation of medical staff in the Longmen Shan fault area: case study of the Lushan Earthquake

In April 2013, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck along the Longmen Shan fault in the city of Ya'an, Sichuan province, China, causing 200 deaths, 11,470 injuries and 21 people to go missing. As no scientific disaster management studies have been done on medical staff dynamic behavior in the Longmen Shan fault area, this paper develops a system dynamics (SD) model to simulate the relief activities in the area after the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake shook Wenchuan County. Based on this SD model, the simulation showed that the results regarding the cumulative number of deaths and the final death toll fit the reality well for the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake in the Longmen Shan fault area. Findings from the simulation confirmed the best ratio of medical staff to rescue workers. After implementing the findings for the medical relief work at the 2013 Sichuan Lushan Earthquake, reasonable earthquake rescue policies were developed for the Longmen Shan fault area. The SD model demonstrated that it was possible to predict the optimum number of medical staff and that medical staff need to be trained to improve their treatment abilities. Furthermore, it is suggested that search and rescue workers should also assist in restoring road transport during any medical relief activities in the Longmen Shan fault area. These policies can be generalized to other earthquake relief activities in the Longmen Shan fault area as well as being a valuable reference for similar mountainous earthquake areas.     

关于地震救援演练理念与模式的一点思考

在深入总结我国目前地震应急救援演练的基础上,对比了国外地震救援演练的设计思路和经验,试图探讨一套适合我国国情并能很好地与国际接轨的地震救援演练设计的理念和模式,并详细描述了演练实施的总体框架、思路、内容及步骤等.     

充分发挥科技资料在防震减灾事业中的作用

为了充分发挥科技资料在防震减灾事业中的作用,就如何改进地震科技资料的管理方式、提高地震科技资料的管理水平、为防震减灾一线科研人员提供最满意的服务进行了论述.     

地震灾害心理伤害的相关问题研究

结合唐山地震灾区社会恢复与社会行为问题研究,对将近2000份有关地震社会问题的问卷进行了重新统计、整理,归纳提炼出了与地震灾害心理伤害相关的内容。作者作为地震灾害的幸存者,与灾民相伴,对他们进行了相关的心理帮助,并作了大量和深入的调查研究,了解灾害造成的心理伤害程度,同时进行了灾害心理统计与分析,总结研究了地震发生前后的各种经验教训。     

Modelling the elements of country vulnerability to earthquake disasters

Earthquakes have probably been the most deadly form of natural disaster in the past century. Diversity of earthquake specifications in terms of magnitude, intensity and frequency at the semi-continental scale has initiated various kinds of disasters at a regional scale. Additionally, diverse characteristics of countries in terms of population size, disaster preparedness, economic strength and building construction development often causes an earthquake of a certain characteristic to have different impacts on the affected region. This research focuses on the appropriate criteria for identifying the severity of major earthquake disasters based on some key observed symptoms. Accordingly, the article presents a methodology for identification and relative quantification of severity of earthquake disasters. This has led to an earthquake disaster vulnerability model at the country scale. Data analysis based on this model suggested a quantitative, comparative and meaning full interpretation of the vulnerability of concerned countries, and successfully explained which countries are more vulnerable to major disasters.     

国际地震救援行动中的医疗力量配置分析

强烈地震在造成大量建筑物倒塌的同时也造成了大量的人员伤亡,如何快速有效抢救埋压在废墟下的幸存者,如何快速救治因建筑物倒塌的压伤人员,如何有效防止灾后的疾病肆虐,在简要分析了几次国际地震救援行动的医疗力量配置情况之后认为,合理配置的医疗力量和快速的医疗救助行动将可以极大程度地抢救垂危的伤员。     

日本新澙中越地震简况及抗震救灾的经验教训

介绍了2004年日本新瀉中越地震及其余震的概况、震源机制和地震发生的特点,描述了普通民宅、大型公共设施、生命线工程和农林畜牧业的震害情况及震后日本政府的紧急救援措施,初步总结了抗震救灾工作的经验和教训,为我国今后这方面的工作提供参考.     

防震减灾网页设计要点及其日常维护——以山东省防震减灾信息网站为例

以山东省防震减灾信息网站为例 ,介绍了网页设计要点及日常维护的经验和体会 ,进而提出了网页进一步发展的新思路     

抓住机遇,建设新世纪专群结合的地震监测预报系统

建设专家为主、专群结合的地震监测预报体系是当前防震减灾的重点工作之一。通过回顾浙江省“九五”期间建设地震监测系统的实践 ,认为在当前科技水平和管理体制下 ,专群结合是建设好现代化地震监测预报系统的重要保证。省局必须正确处理好省级以下地震部门工作中的几个问题 ,发挥专业队伍在监测预报体系中的主导作用 ,才能做好新时期的地震监测预报工作。