p. 494 Earthquakes
Backgrounder: Earthquakes
Visit this site by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for
general information about earthquakes. This site includes information
about what to do during an earthquake and how you can help your community
prepare for earthquakes. Scroll down to the section called did you know.
Which state has had the most major earthquakes in the United States?
Earthquake
Hazards Program: Earthquakes for Kids and Grownups
Go to this United States Geological Survey (USGS) site for all
kinds of information about earthquakes. Click on Cool Earthquake Facts
to learn about the largest earthquake in the world and the difference
between a tidal wave and a tsunami. You can also click on frequently
asked questions about earthquakes, then scroll down and read the answers.
Can anyone reliably predict earthquakes?
Putting
Down Roots in Earthquake Country
At this Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) site you
can read about earthquakes and earthquake preparedness in California.
This site offers an online version of a booklet produced by the SCEC.
Scroll down and click on Confronting the Inevitable to learn more about
earthquakes in southern California. How many earthquakes has southern
California had in the last ten years?
What
is Richter Magnitude?
Visit this University of Nevada site to learn all about the
Richter scale for measuring earthquake magnitude. The site also has
information on seismic waves and the measurement of moment magnitude.
It includes mathematical formulas used to measure magnitude. Scroll
down and click on Mercalli Intensity Scale. What is the difference between
magnitude and intensity of an earthquake
p. 507 Earthquake Damage
HAZUS – Natural Hazard Loss Estimation
Methodology
At this FEMA site you can learn about a software program that uses mathematical
formulas to estimate losses from a potential earthquake. HAZUS uses
geographic information systems to map and display ground shaking, patterns
of building damage, and demographic information about a community. Scientists
and emergency workers can use this program to estimate the number of
buildings that would be damaged, the number of casualties, and the amount
of damage to transportation systems if an earthquake of a particular
magnitude and intensity occurred.
What Causes Damage?
Go to this site to learn more about the damage caused by earthquakes.
The information given is from a booklet by Washington State Earthquake
Hazards, Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources. Most earthquake
damage is caused by ground shaking. What other events cause damage during
an earthquake?
Earthquake
Images
At this site you can view images of the damages caused by earthquakes.
There are images from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the 1964 Alaska
earthquake, and the 1988 Armenia earthquake. Click on the 1994 Northridge
earthquake (Part I) to read a description of the earthquake and the
damages it caused. Then go to the upper lefthand corner of the screen
and click on next to view images of this earthquake.
p. 508 Recent Earthquakes
Earthquake
Information Network
The Earthquake Information Network (EQNET) is an organization
funded by FEMA and the National Science Foundation (NSF). This site
provides information about recent earthquakes as well as information
on seismology, geophysics, geology, and disaster management. The upper
righthand corner lists the most recent earthquakes worldwide. Scroll
down to archives and click on Turkey (8/17/99) to learn more about this
devastating earthquake.
National
Earthquake Information Center
Visit this United States Geological Survey (USGS) site for information
about current earthquakes. Scroll down and click on Current Earthquakes
for a list of the most recent earthquakes worldwide. The list gives
the time and date, latitude and longitude, depth, magnitude, and name
of the location of the earthquake. Where were the last five earthquakes
located?
Seismic
Monitor
This site is supported by the University of Colorado and the
USGS. It includes a map of the world with an interactive display of
global seismic activity that allows you to monitor earthquakes, view
records of ground motion, and visit seismic stations around the world.
Click in the center of any circle on the map to see all seismic events
at that site.
p. 518 Preparing for Natural Disasters
What
to Do During an Earthquake
This FEMA site tells you what to do to protect yourself and
your family during an earthquake, as well as what to do after an earthquake
hits. Scroll down to plan for an earthquake to find out how to prepare
for a possible earthquake in your area. How many states or territories
in the United States are at moderate to high risk for earthquakes?
The
EQE Earthquake Home Preparedness Guide
At this site you can learn about projects you can do to protect
your home from earthquake damage. This is an online version of a booklet
that includes tips on making your home earthquake-proof as well as what
to do after an earthquake. Click on projects everyone should do to see
how to prepare your home for potential earthquake damage.
Disaster
Services
Go to this American Red Cross site to learn how you can prepare
for disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. The site
discusses family disaster planning, animal safety, financial preparations,
and more. Click on Family Disaster Planning, then on Disaster Supplies
Kit. What is the most important item to have in case of an emergency?
