Here in Seattle, we are always waiting for the Big One. The Big One refers to a potentially devastating earthquake because we are on the San Andreas Fault line. City officials here are constantly arguing about certain projects which will make the city safer in the event of an earthquake. Seismologist Brian Tucker has been looking at ways that cities and communities everywhere vulnerable to earthquakes can prevent the loss of human life, even in developing nations.
Brian Tucker parallels diseases to earthquakes in that diseases can be prevented with vaccines and that much of the damage caused by earthquakes can also be stopped with preventive measures. His organization, GeoHazards (GHI), has been in as many as forty different countries doing work to build safer buildings and infrastructure to lessen the loss of human life when and if natural disasters such as earthquakes and Tsunamis occur.
As this Slate article points out, Brian Tucker was inspired to start GHI because he noticed the large discrepancy in the number of lives lost in an Armenian earthquake (approximately 25,000 people) and a similar earthquake in California (63 people). He realized that the loss of life was largely preventable with solid construction and infrastructure. In addition, Brian Tucker and GHI look for solutions to other problems that occur. Often, the problems of evacuation are specific to the specific community or city where the natural disaster takes place. In addition, different notification systems need to be put in place for each location. There isn’t always a one-size fits all solution for disaster relief.
Because of GHI’s work, Brian Tucker has come to realize the value of funding for disaster-prevention (or mitigation, since the disasters will still occur.) According to Slate, he would appreciate it if there was more international funding for safe infrastructure projects within the developing world, just as there is a significant amount of money for funding for vaccines in the developing world.
I’ve always thought it was truthfully interesting how many people undervalue the importance of infrastructure until there is a natural disaster; at a party recently, I was introduced to a young guy from an undisclosed country in South America. I asked him what his profession was, and he said he had a boring job. He was “just a structural engineer.” I couldn’t believe how much he undervalued his job. Truthfully, structural engineers save just as many lives as doctors and firemen; they just don’t get any credit for it because all of their work is “preventive” and not after the fact.