The need for earthquake education

ABSTRACT

In 1977 the United States Congress found that 1) all 50 States are vulnerable to the hazards of earthquakes, and at least 39 of them are subject to major or moderate seismic risk, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington. A large portionof the population of the United States lives in areas vulnerable to earthquake hazards; and 2) earthquakes have caused, and can cause in the future, enormous loss of life, injury, destruction of property, and economic and social disruption. With respect to future earthquakes, such loss, destruction, and disruption can be substantially reduced through the development and implementation of earthquake hazards reduction measures, including A) improved design and construction methods and practices, B) land-use controls and redevelopment, C) prediction techniques and early-warning systems, D) coordinated emergency preparedness plans, and E) public education and involvement programs. Education is seen in this extract from the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to be one of five reduction measures to be undertaken under Public Law 95-124