Response Ideas
Environmental Hazards 2006 Class Website
When evaluating the impact earthquakes might pose on certain surroundings it is imperative that hazards already in place are recognized. Vital hazards effecting emergency routes, relief obstacles, medical aid, and food/ water supplies need to be addressed first since they can greatly alter the death toll. For instance, if emergency routes befall to structural failure inflow and outflow of emergency personal and civilians can be cut short if only one route exists. It doesn’t matter where you live or what kind of structural technology is in place, earthquakes have the capability of destroying the infrastructure of roads (fig. 1 & 2).
Fig. 1) Pakistan rural Highway Fig. 2) California Overpass
Thus, having alternative routes is essential in the struggle to save lives during a crisis. Without alternative routes, food, water and medical supplies could take days or even weeks to reach people in need of them. California experiences road destruction, however, they have such an intricate system of roads that numerous alternative routes are available (fig 3).
Fig. 3) California Intricate road system
Unfortunately, rural Pakistan is not as lucky. Emergency route hazards are one of Pakistan’s greatest problems because much of rural Pakistan is mountainous rugged terrain. This type of environment puts extreme obstacles for Pakistan’s relief effort. Some of the major problems rural Pakistan is facing with current relief alternatives are speed, rescue capacity, hazardous rescue conditions, and individual education. Often bumpy, gravel roads slow down relief vehicles or animal transportation is the only available means to transport relief, both of which cause speed inefficiencies in the fight to save lives (Fig. 4&5).
Fig. 4) Bumpy mountainous Pakistan road Fig. 5) Mules deliver relief aid
Rescue workers are not fitted with protective gear causing an unsafe atmosphere for them to work in; where as in California, they are equipped making the workers more confident and able to complete their job (fig. 6 & 7).
Fig. 6) Pakistan relief workers Fig. 7) California relief workers
All the problems with speed and relief capabilities that rural Pakistan face greatly reduces the capacity of people it can aid before it’s too late. Individual education and preparation can help reduce the hazard of food, water, and medical supplies becoming depleted. If people are educated on the importance of having a relief kit and drinking water stored for emergencies then the depletion of supplies might be prolonged enough for outside relief to reach the village. Also, small scale medical training like CPR or how to transport an injured person would be valuable to know in case medical personal are not available (fig. 8).
Fig. 8) How to carry an injured person and basic CPR training