EOP for an earthquake in Pleasantville City U.S.

1. EOP for an earthquake in Pleasantville City U.S. Name Institution Affiliation

2. Executive Summary • When the earth surface is shaken by energy that is released from a front line or volcanic activity, we call that an earthquake, • An earthquake has the potential of causing disastrous situations and losses • With an earthquake having hit our neighboring city, though with a low history of earthquakes our city is at risk and we cannot rule out the possibility of an earthquake in our city • The consequences of an earthquake in this city would have far more reaching catastrophes within the city and the surrounding more than we could imagine

3. There are geological and volcanic activities within the surrounding of the city that make the occurrence of an earthquake imminent • The loads of waste materials from the highlands and the mudslides and sand slides make our city vulnerable • The size of an earthquake can referred in terms of its magnitude, where a small magnitude has the capability of releasing high levels of energy • A earthquake of a magnitude of 2.0 would release threefold tomes more energy than a M1.0. • The magnitude can be high in our city compared to our neighbors

4. Effects of an earthquake • The depth, magnitude and the distance from the epicenter determine the impacts an earthquake can have • An earthquake has tremendous damage on infrastructure and buildings • In this city a magnitude 2.0 has the capability of causing at least destruction of 35000 homes, 3000 commercial buildings and several schools • When infrastructures are damaged causalities are inevitable where people are trapped within the buildings that have collapsed

5. Effects of an earthquake • When infrastructure is damaged people are isolated from their living areas • As a result people are forced to take the causalities in but this depends on the number of people • Temporary accommodation would be needed for these people before new structure are erected • Roads are blocked by debris from falling objects from buildings thereby blocking access to the causalities and those in need of help • In some regions we would be forced to quarantine them so that inspection and investigation is done determine the safety of the rescue teams use of heavy machinery

6. Public transport would be blocked because some rails and bridges would be damaged • This has a direct effect on the economy, the water supply and the gas to household and communication is cut off • The gas has the capability of creating fires and that further destroy property • Waster water then spills on the roads and in households bringing in a health situation to the community, hazardous material release from companies and high industrial plants would be a disaster to humans in the surrounding

7. Emergency Management Elements • The first principle is making the community take responsibility in disaster preparedness, individuals in the city should have knowledge of earthquake risks • The second is the local government awareness of the risks to earthquakes in the planning of the cities and its land uses • Industry and business planning should be aware of the disruption risk in case of an earthquake • Final it is the government agencies’ responsibilities through risk assessment and community engagements • The information being availed to the areas likely to be most affected

8. Building codes should be inline with information gathered on earthquakes • There should be earthquake notifications and the expected magnitude to enhance disaster preparedness • Households, business and farm plans should have a written emergency plans • There should also be a community safety advice in regard to earthquakes • These are some of the tools we are lacking in our city

9. Regional Earthquake Planning • The state emergency service for regions develops regional earthquake plans • This management team identifies the regions likely to be hit hard by the earthquake • Offers publication intelligence to the risky areas and control the incidents in case of an earthquake • There are traffic management plans, staging areas, relief centers and cross boundary agreements

10. Preparedness plan • The first step to earthquake preparedness is the risk assessment, this involves assessment of buildings and and bridges through a hazard risk vulnerability assessment • The second step is the risk reduction through seismic upgrades to buildings and bridges, retrofit structures for buildings are prohibited and enhancement of public preparedness education • There are dedicated fire protection system, an able urban search and rescue team, consolidated radio and dispatch for fire and police and finally there is an emergency operations center for earthquakes • Every household should be installed by an earthquake awareness and preparedness guide

11. Support Documents • The support documents refer to the documents that authorize the participants in an emergency plan at an operations center • Such documents include the united states emergency operation plan for earthquake provided by the united states government • The National executive committee prepares the disaster management plan approved by NDMA • The city emergency plan provided by the state • There is the regional emergency operations plan • Finally there is the departmental emergency plan for earthquake in the city hall.

12. Communication Plan • The objective is to provide information and safety instruction in the quickest way possible, update as issues progress to assure the safety of the city dwellers • The target audience is usually the inhabitants of the city those in the affected areas as well as those in the safe zones • The first responders who are the police, fire, ambulance service and the city hall are notified of the earthquake • The city emergency operations center sends security alerts through the social media and emergency messaging application

13. The emergency director activates the emergency operations center where all the emergency communications team converges • The director then mobilizes different teams to work on different avenues of communication that include the websites, social media and mainstream media relations • The director also creates a team that regulates and approves the information going out mainly for safety and security reasons • The executive members are alerted of any information regarding the earthquake before it is dispatched • Reponses to media reports are also handled through the emergency executive board

14. Facts are identified and the public is provided with the facts of the earthquake • The policy group also determines the end of the earthquake and emergencies associated with it • The causalities are reported and and information of their location to safety • Counselling services notifications are provided through the process of communication

15. Response Plan • The agencies involved in the response plan follow the guidelines of the response plan • It is a thumb rule that control and coordination of an earthquake should take place at the lowest level possible • All agencies and authorities involved in the plan gather and come up with an integrated plan for the management of the earthquake • The managements is coned at the consequencies at the region and the state level

16. Response Plan Identifying the likely consequences of the earthquake and any interdependencies that may affect planning. Confirming agencies have adequate resources in place to fulfil their responsibilities and are planning for sustainment and surge capacity, including identification of need for inter-state or international assistance. Identifying mass gatherings and large public events that maybe at risk, and arrangements to ensure the safety of individuals attending. Confirming agencies with call taking responsibilities have resources in place and back up arrangements to cope with the expected call load.

17. Recovery Plan • The first issue is the recue plan for the causalities though the appropriate audiences • Secondly is the medical response from the department of health through the state risk management plan • This involves the dispatch of medical personnel and ambulance services to the hit area • Access is then restricted from the areas so that relatives don’t rush inn looking for their loved ones

18. Recovery • Assess losses of agricultural assets and livestock, and needs of affected persons and communities • Advise individuals, communities and government agencies on re establishment of rural enterprises or alternative strategies for economic relief and administer specific relief subsidies • Advise councils on the disposal of dead or maimed stock. • Advise distribution bodies on needs for donated fodder

19. Recovery Plan • Evacuation where people are translocate to safer locations is included in the management plan. This may require aircraft and boats from the maritime departments • Damage control is done in case it does not jeopardize recue missions • The gas lines, bridges and rails are reopened in the process so that commination lines are restored • Engineering advice is needed both before the disaster for mitigation purposes and after an earthquake so that rescue missions are successful; • Debris are removed from the infrastructure and to enable recovery mission

20. Emergency Call lists • In case of an earthquake there is a list of authorities that one can contact in need of help • Ambulance for the city, the state red cross, country for authority, • emergency services telecommunications are some of the contacts one can as k for aid • The water corporation helps into that

21. Conclusion • Earthquakes are disastrous wherever they may occur, the unfortunate thing is that most of us are never prepared for it • Response and recovery towards an earthquake require a lot or resources and collaboration that this city lacks • Our city stands a risk of experiencing an earthquake • An increment of the current budget would go a long way in ensuring the safety of the inhabitants of this city

22. References • National Disaster Management Authority. (2015). Management of Earthquakes. National Disaster Management Authority. India: National Disaster Management Authority. • Shah, P. A. (2012, July). Earthquake Disaster Management: Indian Perspective. Economics and Social Sciences , 1-33. • The Canadian Red Cross. (2015). Earthquakes, what do to do. Toronto: Natural Resources Canada. • UNESCO, IISEE/BRI, GRIPS. (2015). Earthquake Disaster Management in the World. Tokyo: UNESCO, IISEE/BRI, GRIPS. • Victoria State Emergency Service. (2016). Earthquake Emergency Response Plan. Victoria State Emergency Service. Victoria: Victoria State Emergency Service