2008 Sichuan Earthquake Dan Sinni Spring 2009

Contents I. Earthquake Overview II. Disaster Level III. Effect on Schools IV. Effect on Medical Care V. Aid Management VI. Conclusion

What Happened… Thrust Fault on the Sichuan Basin Known as the Longmenshan Fault Thrust Fault on the Sichuan Basin Known as the Longmenshan Fault Indian Plate Converged with Eurasion Plate Indian Plate Converged with Eurasion Plate Rupture Propagated at an Average Speed of 3.1 k/s Rupture Propagated at an Average Speed of 3.1 k/s

Strength Magnitude of 8.0Ms Magnitude of 8.0Ms XI Mercalli Intensity Scale “Very Disastrous” XI Mercalli Intensity Scale “Very Disastrous” Land Slides, Bridges Destroyed, Underground Pipelines Out of Service Land Slides, Bridges Destroyed, Underground Pipelines Out of Service Video Video Video

Extent of Shocks Tremors were felt in over 10 countries surrounding China including: Russia Tremors were felt in over 10 countries surrounding China including: RussiaIndiaPakistanTaiwanThailand

Aftermath Highways Damaged Highways Damaged Hundreds of Thousands Gone Missing Hundreds of Thousands Gone Missing Wireless Communications Down Wireless Communications Down 80% Buildings Collapsed in One County 80% Buildings Collapsed in One County Power Plants, Bridges, and Dams Damaged Power Plants, Bridges, and Dams Damaged

Effect on Schools Thousands of Schools Collapsed Thousands of Schools Collapsed Approx 7,000 Classrooms Collapsed Approx 7,000 Classrooms Collapsed 2 Million Sq. Meters of School Property Toppled 2 Million Sq. Meters of School Property Toppled Some Areas Whole Schools Collapsed Burying Hundreds Some Areas Whole Schools Collapsed Burying Hundreds 7% of Total Death Toll Was Students 7% of Total Death Toll Was Students 1.3% of Total Collapsed Properties was Schools 1.3% of Total Collapsed Properties was Schools Approx 8,500 Students Orphaned by Quake Approx 8,500 Students Orphaned by Quake

“Tofu-Dreg Schoolhouses” June 1 st 2008 “Childrens Day” Where Parents Visited Rubble to Mourn Children June 1 st 2008 “Childrens Day” Where Parents Visited Rubble to Mourn Children Questions About Infrastructure Raised Questions About Infrastructure Raised Chinese Government Claims to Begin Investigation on Poor Infrastructure Chinese Government Claims to Begin Investigation on Poor Infrastructure

Help Arrives Response Almost Immediate Response Almost Immediate Helicopters, Water, Food, Supplies, Tents Sent Out Later in the Day Helicopters, Water, Food, Supplies, Tents Sent Out Later in the Day Military Personnel Destroyed (50,000) Military Personnel Destroyed (50,000) President Flew to Zone 90 Minutes After President Flew to Zone 90 Minutes After

Effect on Medical Care Landslides and other destruction prevented rescue workers to reach buried victims in sufficient time Landslides and other destruction prevented rescue workers to reach buried victims in sufficient time

Medical Efforts Have Difficulty Weather Hinders Rescue Efforts Weather Hinders Rescue Efforts Communication Down in Hardest Hit Areas Communication Down in Hardest Hit Areas National Disaster Relief Commission Issues a Level II Emergency Plan National Disaster Relief Commission Issues a Level II Emergency Plan Red Cross of China Asked for Money Instead of Rescue Workers and Supplies Red Cross of China Asked for Money Instead of Rescue Workers and Supplies

International Aid UNICEF UNICEF European Union European Union 1.5 Billion in aid from Chinese public alone in first week 1.5 Billion in aid from Chinese public alone in first week 4.5 Billion from public donations total 4.5 Billion from public donations total Numerous countries and organizations contributed Numerous countries and organizations contributed

Recommendations Need to have better infrastructure. Need to have better infrastructure. Better communication systems Better communication systems Government should not interfere and sensor protests Government should not interfere and sensor protests Better Emergency response and coordination needed Better Emergency response and coordination needed Data was now available to help analyze and predict future earthquakes Data was now available to help analyze and predict future earthquakes

Conclusion Need to Improve Infrastructure Need to Improve Infrastructure Nineteenth Most Disastrous Earthquake Nineteenth Most Disastrous Earthquake Need Better Emergency Relief Zones Need Better Emergency Relief Zones

Questions?

Sources Unicef.com Unicef.com One-Child Policy Lifted for Quake Victims’ Parents. New York Times. /27child.html. One-Child Policy Lifted for Quake Victims’ Parents. New York Times. /27child.html. /27child.html /27child.html Wikipedia.com Wikipedia.com Usgs.gov Usgs.gov 05/17/content_ htm. 05/17/content_ htm. 05/17/content_ htm 05/17/content_ htm