responses

• After a tectonic hazard occurs, the recovery effort is supported by immediate and long-term responses. Short-term or immediate responses occur in the hours and days immediately after a disaster. Short-term responses mainly involve evacuation, search and rescue and providing aid to those affected.
• Immediate responses to tectonic hazards include: medical care, road clearance, rescue teams
• Issuing warnings:

  • Can follow volcanic eruptions when activity is likely to continue
  • Can occur after a major earthquake due to the risk of aftershocks
• Immediate responses are the assistance and aid given within the hours and days following a disaster.
• Rescue teams searching for survivors:

  • LICs rely on support from aid agencies and HIC governments for support in searching for survivors
• Providing treatment to injured people:

  • Can include providing painkillers or antibiotics
  • Treatment for minor injuries through to emergency surgery for the worst affected
  • Field hospitals are set up where considerable pressure is placed on existing medical facilities
• Food, drink and shelter provided:

  • Providing clean, safe water is a significant priority following major tectonic hazard events
  • Services are often damaged or destroyed
• Recovering bodies:

  • Following the rescue of people trapped by a hazardous event, the priority changes to removing bodies
• Extinguishing fires:

  • Fires are common following earthquakes due to damage to gas pipes and damaged electricity lines
  • In some instances, deaths caused by fires have been greater than the collapse of buildings
• Long term responses focus on rebuilding and reconstructing areas affected by a hazard event. Long-term responses to tectonic hazards include:

  • Rebuilding and repairing properties
  • Rebuilding and repairing transport infrastructure
  • Improving building regulations
  • Restoring utilities such as water, electricity and gas
  • Resettling local people
  • Developing opportunities for the economy to recover
  • Install monitoring equipment
• Long-term responses are those that take place in the weeks and months after a hazard event.