Date: 03/18/18

To: American Red Cross

From: Abas Sheikh
Subject: Lack of Earthquake Knowledge
Action Required: Request creating awareness of the dangers of earthquakes
Distribution List: Resources Team

Research analysis shows that earthquakes are given the least amount of awareness. Compared to
other natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Findings show that government officials
are not raising enough awareness to the people of the United States. Civilians do not know what
to do when an earthquake occurs and are put in life-threatening situations when one happens.
This causes them to lose their relatives and homes, ultimately leaving them homeless.Also, it is
important to understand that earthquake are one of the most dangerous natural disaster, which
can even cause another natural disaster to occur. No longer should we put people in these types
of situations. Therefore, it has become increasingly important to use the internet as a way to
communicate with the country on the ways of overcoming and being better prepared when an
earthquake arises.
Summary
Earthquakes are one of the most fearsome disasters that can arise because of its chain-like effect.
Earthquakes have a chain-like effect that has the likelihood of causing unpredictable hazardous
events. For instances, one of the events that an earthquake can cause is a tsunami, which is
another natural disaster that has the potential to harm civilians and leave houses collapsed.
Earthquakes are unpredictable, and can occur anywhere at anytime. For instance, hurricanes have
a particular season in which they mainly occur. However,earthquakes take place underground,
and seasonal weather plays no role in igniting an earthquake. Earthquakes can damage buildings
andcollapse on people who are inside as well as cause fires from broken pipes. Recovering from
an earthquake is laborious and can create a lot of stress on a human. Overall, an earthquake is
one of the worst natural disasters that does not get the attention it needs. It is crucial that the
people who are at risk know what to do before, during, and after an earthquake happens.
Therefore, taking action on the following four main concepts of earthquake awareness will help
address the issue.
Lack of Preparation
Being prepared for things can help can give one an advantage or result in better outcomes.
However, the lack of awareness of earthquakes has caused civilians to be insufficiently prepared
for earthquakes. Civilians are not sure what action to perform and are left in a state of shock and
panic. In contrast, other natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes have their own section
in the local news. For instance, local news has tornado and hurricanes watches, where they track
the storm using a radar. On the other hand, earthquakes are only on the news when it has
occurred and the damage is already done. By then the civilians have lost their properties and
relatives and have no clue how to move forward. Overall, lack of preparation can create chaotic
situations that are tough to recover from. . T
Misconceptions of Earthquakes
In a world where most of the people are attached to their smartphones, and use Netflix or Hulu as
an alternative to watching TV. It’s important to understand that people derive their perception of
what an earthquake is from urban myths and movies that use special effects that do not depict
real earthquakes. Therefore, the misconception of earthquakes is a significant factor on why
people are not worried about earthquakes. For instance, the people might think earthquakes only
occur in California because of the San Andreas fault. But an earthquake can transpire anywhere
at anytime. Earthquakes do not have a season or only occur during certain weather conditions but
can occur anytime because earthquakes occur underground. This demonstrates the
unpredictability and risk of earthquakes and why enough research, at this point, has not been
organized to look further into these issues. Earthquakes happen every day and in every location
of the world. For that reason, it is important that people know what to do before, during, and
after an earthquake occurs and the safest way to avoiding the least amount of damage during this
situation.
Hazards of Earthquakes
Due to the lack of earthquake awareness, people do not know the aftermath an earthquake can
cause. Earthquakes not only cause buildings to collapse but can create other hazards that can
make the current condition even worse. For instance, earthquakes can cause flooding by breaking
dams around a river. In a worst case scenario, earthquakes that occur near the sea can cause
another natural disaster to happen called a tsunami. A tsunami can have the same or even greater
impact as an earthquake. An earthquake and tsunami occurring in the same region can wipe out
an entire community. Another hazard is fire since gas pipes can break because of an earthquake.
Overall, earthquakes cause a lot of problems and can have a chain-like effect causing another
natural disaster to occur. Therefore, it is important that we raise awareness to increase the
knowledge of people about earthquakes.
Conclusion
Essentially, the lack of earthquake awareness is the foundation of this problem. Leaving civilians
unpreparedabout what an earthquake is results in them in getting in harm's away. Ultimately, it is
crucial that we raise awareness for this issue r to protect the lives of the civilians and create a
better living environment. The following information is the recommendation to help solve this
issue and reduce the lack of awareness for earthquakes.
Recommendations
The following is recommendations that American Red Crosscan take in order for people to be
better equipped to handle earthquakes.
 Funding research institutes on creating technology and finding better insight of
earthquakes (Developing an instrument that can predict the next earthquake)
 An instrument that uses AI to predict certain that are in danger of earthquake.
 This instrument will use data gather from pervious earthquakes and things that ignited
that earthquake. The instrument will be able to make a model on the probability of
 earthquakes occuring depending on that region. With this instrument, the news can create
warninig to brodcast when the instruemnt prdicts an earthquake coming.
 Creating guides and classes to increase the knowledge about earthquakes
- Creating a guide that expalins the fundamentals of earthquakes and ways to avoid
damage from it. The guides can be used in classes once a month to give the studnents
an reminder. Also, adding this to the agenda in science classes is another alternative.
 Government funding into buildings that are built with better infrastructure
- Using better and stronger matrerila that can reduce the chances od buildining
collasiping when an earthquakes will save more lives. Providing funding the only
thing nesscary to start buildings. Using tax money or doing a fundaraiser is a way of
reaching the amount.
The world is changing at a fast pace and so is the people that live in it, with technology growing
at a rapid pace and consumers using it more often. It is important to alter the way of reaching to
people about an issue as old methods do not work as well. Social media is one of the most
effective ways people communicate by sharing information with other people instantaneously.
Thereby, producing a social media scheme that reaches a significant amount people can help
raise the awareness. In addition, social networks allow people to share information they see with
their followers. Causing a chain reaction across the world which the information you provide can
see anywhere with having to go there.