PGA

The high PGA areas tend to have more stations location near them.

Building damage and geologic factors

 

 

Although building status and building damage density can be related, liquefaction is unrelated to the buildings because it occurs in the soil.  It doesn't have anything to do with building status. 

Hurricane Sandy

This is an impressive event of all the right factors occurring at the same time.  A Swiss Cheese Model.  With the moon, the Arctic jet stream and the hurricane.  I have friends that live in New York City and the New England area and they said it isn't very bad —right now, it isn't even raining in Massachusetts.  I think after Hurricane Katrina, we over prepare for natural disasters but in my opinion it is always better to over-prepare, lost money or not.  Obviously we are not in the best economic situation to waste money but a life should never have a price tag on it so protection of the people should always be first.  


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/us/hurricane-sandy-churns-up-east-coast.html?hp&_r=0


As the day progresses, the storm is getting worse.  I've seen lots of jokes online about Sandy and it seems as if a lot of the general public is not taking the situation very seriously.  Because the East Coast doesn't have as many environmental hazards occur as other parts of the US, they may just be unprepared.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/us/hurricane-sandy-churns-up-east-coast.html?hp&_r=0

Jailed over earthquake predictions

After thinking about this for awhile, I am still in disbelief that scientists could be jailed over a failed earthquake prediction.
A quick summary of the article, six scientists and a government official are being sentenced to six years in jail for failure to accurately predict an earthquake that occurred in Italy in 2009.  Yes, more than 300 people were killed because the earthquake was predicted incorrectly but natural hazards are currently impossible to predict! To be held accountable for the deaths of these people is "both unfair and naive", quoted from the second CNN article. 

In another quote taken from the second article, "Eugenio Carlomagno is among the citizens of L'Aquila to feel let down by the panel. 'There are big responsibilities that this trial has to establish. No one alerted us, there were no evacuation plans that could have saved lives,' he told CNN.'

Regardless of if the citizens were not alerted, it is still the earthquake that killed the people.  Not the earthquake. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/23/world/europe/italy-quake-scientists-guilty/index.html?on.cnn=2
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/20/world/europe/italy-quake-trial/index.html

Earthquake Risk Assessment

Earthquake Preparation

 Today, the "Great Shakeout" will occur.  Millions of people around the world will hit the deck in a massive earthquake drill to prepare for future earthquakes.  Homes, schools and offices are all going to participate in the event.  This is behavioral preparation. If they can prepare the generation public to react in a certain way, hopefully they will stay calm during the actual hazard.  Therefore, more lives will be saved. 
According to www.ready.gov, they say the best ways to react during a earthquake if indoors is to drop to the ground, get under or near something sturdy and cover your face and head.  Quoted from the website, "Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place." This seems a little too easy to protect yourself from an earthquake.  What is a pillow really going to do? I understand that there is only so much a person can do to protect themselves if there is an earthquake but telling a person to cover their head with a pillow for protection seems a little unnecessary.




http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/18/shake-rattle-and-roll-us-other-countries-to-participate-in-earthquake-drill/
http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes

Comparing soil to drought and crop yields

Drought Map

Oil Spill in New Zealand

Yesterday, according to BBC an oil tanker off the North-East coast of New Zealand began leaking oil.  This is being called the worst oil spill in the history of New Zealand and is expected to get significantly worse over the next few days.

Posted on Ministry for the Environment, "Being an island nation, the health of our ocean, our land and our people are inextricably linked."  The health of the ocean and beaches is extremely important to New Zealand's economy.  Not only does fishing support a large part of their industry, tourism does as well.  Right now, it is 'summer' in Australia and New Zealand.  Having one of their best beaches closed for a significant period of time is going to affect their economy.

Obviously the affects on the environment and wildlife is going to be tragic and detrimental, as well.

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/oceans/index.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15251319

Chinese landslide

A landslide occurred in China on October 4th.  The landslide was a result of an earthquake and flood that occurred a month ago. 
The landslide buried a primary school, trapping 18 students and one adult.  The people are thought to still be trapped inside.  This disaster was entirely preventable if the school was located at a more secure location. 
There is an estimated $160 million in damages from the earthquake, flooding and the landslide. 
The article didn't mention the rescue methods being used to rescue the people in the school but I'm hope that it is a first priority.
The article also mentioned that the school was only in session because they were making up from school due to delayed when the earthquake hit.  If natural disasters are that common, it seems there should be better security methods in place or schools located in better areas!



http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/04/china-landslide-buries-primary-school