6 November 2008
Last Updated: 24 March 2010 |
Earthquakes
Emergency Management - U.S. and Canada |
This page was initially developed in response to an email forward entitled "Good earthquake advice", describing an earthquake survival strategy promoted by Doug Copp. His strategy,
I learned in subsequent research, was not supported by authoritative sources. Although a search reveals that his recommendations appear on several websites
(see esp. the critical review at Snopes.com),
I present it hereafter in full. While critical references and rejoinders are also presented, the reader is advised that such information may not represent the latest
publications available from the respective sources, and a visit to the sites is recommended for additional information.
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What To Do In An Earthquake
Wherever you are when an earthquake starts, take cover immediately.
Move a few steps to a nearby safe place if need be.
Stay there until the shaking stops.
If you are indoors: "DROP, COVER, HOLD"
- Stay inside.
- Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture.
- Cover your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects.
- Hold onto the object that you are under so that you remain covered.
- If you can't get under something strong, or if you are in a hallway, flatten yourself or crouch against an interior wall.
- If you are in a shopping mall, go into the nearest store.
- Stay away from windows, and shelves with heavy objects.
- If you are at school, get under a desk or table and hold on. Face away from windows.
- If you are in a wheelchair, lock the wheels and protect the back of your head and neck.
If you are outdoors
- Stay outside.
- Go to an open area away from buildings.
- If you are in a crowded public place, take cover where you won't be trampled.
If you are in a vehicle
- Pull over to a safe place where you are not blocking the road. Keep roads clear for rescue and emergency vehicles.
- Avoid bridges, overpasses, underpasses, buildings or anything that could collapse.
- Stop the car and stay inside.
- Listen to your car radio for instructions from emergency officials.
- Do not attempt to get out of your car if downed power lines are across it. Wait to be rescued.
- Place a HELP sign in your window if you need assistance.
- If you are on a bus, stay in your seat until the bus stops. Take cover in a protected place. If you can't take cover, sit in a crouched position and protect your head from falling debris.
AVOID the following in an earthquake
- Doorways. Doors may slam shut and cause injuries.
- Windows, bookcases, tall furniture and light fixtures. You could be hurt by shattered glass or heavy objects.
- Elevators. If you are in an elevator during an earthquake, hit the button for every floor and get out as soon as you can.
- Downed power lines – stay at least 10 metres away to avoid injury.
- Coastline. Earthquakes can trigger large ocean waves called tsunamis.
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The Douglas Copp Material
NOTE:
As you read this article, please be aware that there is significant controversy surrounding Doug Copp and his approach. Immediately following, Copp's views are
refuted in detail by authoritative sources.
EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE "TRIANGLE OF LIFE"
Edited by Larry Linn for MAA Safety Committee brief on 4/13/04.
http://www.amerrescue.org/
My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the
American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced
rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an
earthquake.
I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from
60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member
of many rescue teams from many countries. I was the United Nations expert in
Disaster Mitigation for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in
the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.
In 1996 we made a film which proved my survival methodology to be correct.
The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul, University of Istanbul
Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific
test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten
mannequins did "duck and cover," and ten mannequins I used in my "triangle
of life" survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled
through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the
results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under
directly observable, scientific conditions, relevant to building collapse,
showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and
cover. There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people
using my method of the "triangle of life." This film has been seen by
millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it
was seen in the USA, Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV.
The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City
during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under their desk. Every child
was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by
lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary
and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time
know that the children were told to hide under something.
Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling
upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space
or void next to them. This space is what I call the "triangle of life". The
larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the
object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the
person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time
you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles" you see
formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a
collapsed building. They are everywhere.
TEN TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
- Most everyone who simply "ducks and covers" WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are
crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are
crushed.
- Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You
should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You
can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next
to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to
it.
- Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an
earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If
the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also,
the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings
will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less
squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
- If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll
off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a
much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the
back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor,
next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
- If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the
door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a
sofa, or large chair.
- Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed.
How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward
you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you
will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
- Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency"
(they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and
remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural
failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they
fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the
building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a
likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not
collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by
fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest
of the building is not damaged.
- Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible -
It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the
interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the
building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked;
- People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in
an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened
with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the
San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all
killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying
next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been
able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed
cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had
columns fall directly across them.
- I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and
other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids
are found surrounding stacks of paper.
Spread the word and save someone's life... |
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Quite believable, isn't it? What do other authorities have to say? Do they concur with Copp? And if so,
under what circumstances? Are his strategies appropriate in all situations and conditions? in any?
Authoritative Sources
DOUGLAS COPP - WORSE THAN URBAN LEGEND: DANGEROUS ADVICE!
AND NOW FOR SOME GOOD ADVICE FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
Marla Petal, September 14, 2004
Recently many well-meaning people, wanting to be safe have unwittingly
fallen victim to Douglas Copp, and his "Earthquake Tips". If you took the time to
read Copp's advice and you thought it might have some merit, or if you passed it on
to anyone else, please read this and pass this back up or down the lines. If you
haven't, and just want a few good tips for earthquake safety you can skip all
the way to #7 and #8. To refer to these kinds of stories as urban legend is to
be excessively charitable. Apparently Copp has fooled and victimized many.
Some of them were the good people at the Albuquerque Journal in New
Mexico. Some of them were search and rescue volunteers and general public
in Turkey. Now some of them are the recipients of Copp's "earthquake tips"
circulated on the Internet. Beware of Copp and his American Rescue
Organization. Many of my colleagues have briefly and summarily dismissed
him. However, since this advice has been widely circulated among people
wanting to protect themselves, family, friends and neighbors, I am compelled
to add a detailed response.
- SHOULD YOU BELIEVE ANYTHING DOUG COPP HAS TO SAY?
PROBABLY NOT.
In an investigation of more than 15,000 words, a 4 day series of 7 articles
July 11-14th, 2004 the Albuquerque Journal more than atones for being
briefly taken in by Copp's claim to be "the most experienced rescuer in the
world, equipped with the only device that could detect the scent of decaying
flesh". The Journal flew Copp to New York on the corporate plane immediately after 9/11.
It wasn't until in the air that publisher Lang recognized Copp to be "bogus"
and "unprofessional" and later on the ground that he discovered that Copp's
"rescue crew" consisted of a video producer, camera operator, filmmaker and
archeologist (also taken in by his claims).
According to Albuquerque Journal reporter Leslie Linthicum, in New York Copp
promoted an off-the-shelf gas detector with his own sticker slapped on,
blackened his face for the camera, freeloaded and lounged in a donated hotel
room, failed to check in with the command center, ignored instructions of
authorities, and was a shameless self-promoter hawking video to Inside
Edition and making claims to having been in 2,000 seriously life-threatening
situations and 892 collapsed buildings. He claimed to have rescued 40 people
at ground zero. He claims to be been written up in 50,000 newspapers. Later
he managed to collect $649,885 in victim compensation based on claims now
being investigated by the Justice Department.
Linthicum dug deeper. Copp claims to have a degree in engineering, be a U.N.
expert, and to have video of himself rescuing a 12 year old from the debris of
a 1999 earthquake in Turkey. She learned that Copp has no engineering
degree but failed an engineering course in university. Phillip Boulle of the U.N.
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction in sworn affidavit says,
"Copp has fraudulently misrepresented himself regarding the United Nations".
The video from Turkey? The translator for the French rescue team
"Secouristes Sans Frontieres" whose operations he apparently insinuated
himself into says, "that's not possible". Already discredited amongst
professional urban search and rescue teams, none of Copp's multitude of
claims of leading search and rescue efforts and saving lives, spending hours
underground could be substantiated.
In case you don't have time to read all of Linthicum's articles, I think it fair to
summarize that she tracked sources across the country and across the world.
The pithiest quotes:
- NY Fire Dept Chief John Normal, in charge of the rescue and recovery effort
calls Copp's claims of heroism at ground zero "a fraud" and "a bald-faced liar".
- Chase Sargent, Virginia Beach VA fire battalion chief and FEMA task force
member "Anybody who's legitimate in this business knows who this
knucklehead is"
- T. H. Lang, publisher of Albuquerque Journal - began to detect that Copp's
story "sounded arrogant, braggadocio. It was astoundingly preposterous."
- Stephen Lentz, New Mexico Archeologist was writing a screenplay about
Copp, but says "he didn't do anything", that he "blackened his face by rubbing
soot on it, so he would look like he had been in a dangerous place". Lentz now
likens him to a circus promoter and says, "I think basically he was a fraud and
a bombast".
- Ron Hadani, volunteer who Copp said would vouch for him said of what he
observed, "it was not serious rescue work"
According to Linthicum in the Albuquerque Journal, Copp now claims that
among his debilitating physical ailments are swelling of the brain and immune
problems that affect his thinking. That should be enough to dismiss him. But
to be fair, Copp's earthquake tips actually pre-date the recent evidence of
compromised brain function.
- HOW ABOUT COPP BEFORE HIS 9/11 ESCAPADE?
No less gullible than the rest Turkish rescue volunteers of AKUT and many
others in the media gravitated to Copp's sensationalist claims. In Turkey,
following the devastating 1999 Kocaeli earthquake, this led to disinformation
on a massive scale. Based on Copp's so-called "evidence", mass media outlets
publicized the advice to "get down next to a refrigerator", "get out of your car
and get down by it", "assume a fetal position" and "make a big box of books
or newspaper" to crouch down next to in case of earthquake.
For those of us who are researchers and public educators in the field of
earthquake mitigation and preparedness, Copp's advice is plainly dangerous.
But now that Doug Copp has gotten your attention about earthquake safety,
I'd like to address some of the claims he makes that may have piqued your
curiosity - because it's always good to hone our ability to think critically - and
there are things you can and should do to be safer from earthquakes.
- The Myth of Anticipating the "Triangle of Life"
Yes. Copp is correct that there are places that after a building collapse are
called "triangles of life". These "life safe voids" are the first places that search
and rescue workers look for survivors. It's generally true that the larger the
object and stronger the less it will compact. But don't be fooled. The force of
earthquakes moves large and heavy objects. We don't know a) whether it is
possible to anticipate where the life safe voids will be before the collapse, and
b) whether it is possible to get there during the strong shaking of an
earthquake. What we don't know in advance (but is worthy of research) is the
expected collapse patterns in particular buildings or where these life safe voids
will be when the shaking stops. If your building tilts in one direction, the "large
and heavy object" that you are near, could crush you against the wall....
Copp says "People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above
falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles" and that in the Loma Prieta
earthquake everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get
out of their cars and sit or lie next to them, because of the life-safe void
nearby. The problem is similar: observing a crushed car with a life safe void
next to it doesn't mean much. The car itself may have moved after the
shaking started. There is a lot of evidence of cars and truck overturning in
strong shaking. If everyone got out of their cars and got down next to them, a
lot of people would be dead or seriously injured from the weight of the car
jumping or sliding on them.
Copp likes to base his evidence on the Turkish "experiment" that he was
involved with. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to all involved, this was not an
experiment at all, but rather a voluntary organization's search and rescue
exercise. My colleagues in Turkey corroborate that a building scheduled for
demolition was used as a search and rescue training opportunity. They did
decide to put the mannequins in different spots to see what would happen.
And indeed they reported finding mannequins unharmed next to large and
heavy objects. What is the problem with this? Simply this: To collapse the
building, they tied ropes around the columns and yanked them out, causing
the building to pancake. They did NOT simulate an earthquake. Earthquakes
come in waves. They cause lateral shaking. They cause a variety of different
kinds of damage. Since this experiment didn't produce anything resembling
shaking it really doesn't tell us anything at all about what would happen during
an earthquake. It could be that the large and heavy furniture would end up at
the other end of the room, nowhere near where it began. Assuming even for a
moment that an experiment could be done to support the hypothesis, the
reality is th at the particular re sults from a pancake collapse , while certainly
the most fatal, represents the least common type of reinforced concrete
building collapse. There are at least 4 other major types of collapse. Less than
3% of damaged buildings in the Kocaeli earthquake were pancaked. So these
results would te ll us precious little about what might happen to people in all
the other buildings... the other 97% of damaged buildings as well as the many
undamaged buildings. Formulating the questions in order to advise EVERYONE
about what to do when the shaking starts is much more complex than the
evidence in front of Copp's eyes.
- The "IF I CAN SAVE ONE LIFE" FALLACY
Search and rescue workers desperately want to save lives. In reality,
worldwide their experience is of bringing out at least 98 dead bodies to 2 live
ones. Some would like to turn the one life they saved into a cautionary
anecdote for the other millions of people who were potential victims. There is
a place for these stories, but extrapolating to the millions is not scientific. It
really doesn't matter if one or if ten people are found alive next to a
refrigerator, unless you look at 100 or 1,000 refrigerators after an earthquake
to see what might have happened to people who might have been near them
at the time of the shaking. When you give advice to people about what to do
during an earthquake, you are basically advising everyone who feels the
shaking. In Kocaeli we would have loved to be able to advise the 20,000 who
died so that even a few lives could be saved. But remember that in order to
save any of them, we would have to advise all 15,000,000 people who felt the
shaking and were in a position to take some action. Suppose that our advice
could save 1,000 people from death in pancaked buildings (highly unlikely)
but if it also put .00007 percent of all the people who felt the shaking at risk
of death and serious injury we would have done more harm than good. In
other words, the behavior that Copp thinks may save someone in a particular
collapsed building may put them at MORE risk in other collapsed or noncollapsed
buildings.
When I show Californians pictures from Turkish publications with people
crouched down next to refrigerators and kitchen counters, instead of under
the nearby kitchen table, their jaws drop in horror. Obviously these people are
in danger from the refrigerator sliding and toppling and emptying its contents,
the hot things on the stove, the appliances on the counter and the packed
contents of the cabinets overhead. Obviously they should be under the kitchen
table, or outside the kitchen door. But this is exactly the lunacy that these
kinds of "I found one person alive here" anecdotes can lead to. Some people
in Turkey will die in the next earthquake because of this.
Having said that, most of my scientific colleagues and I have come to the
uneasy compromise that IF people are occupying a self-built adobe structure
with a heavy roof, and with no seismic-resistant design measures, and if they
are on the ground floor and can run out quickly to a safe and open place
outside, they should do so when the shaking begins. Otherwise, they should
still drop, cover and hold on. Adobe collapses are much more survivable when
the roofing is of lightweight material. But the reality is that protection from
earthquake deaths takes place way before the shaking begins. It will take a lot
of well-designed research to learn if there is, in fact, ANY behavior that is
better than luck in saving someone from a building collapse, and that can be
guaranteed not to endanger more people than it helps! As with other helping
efforts: "First, do no harm."
- COPP'S OUTRAGEOUS ERRORS
Copp makes lots of outrageous claims for which there is no research, like
"Everyone who simply "ducks and covers" WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE is
crushed to death -- Every time, without exception." "Everybody who gets
under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed." At best these are extreme
statements that are hypotheses to be tested. It would be great for search and
rescue workers and social science researchers to get together to investigate
hypotheses like these. Copp also says "Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings
Or Outside Of Them If Possible...because of the greater the probability that
your escape route will be blocked." There is no evidence of this. A contrary
hypothesis suggests that especially in concrete building with infill tile walls, the
tiles fall out and so could you. This is also a good subject for research, but at
present it's nothing more than an untested hypothesis.
Please understand that even the best scientific methods don't always provide
perfect or even helpful results. Nevertheless, scientific methods should be
used to investigate our hunches. There are many important questions that we
haven't begun to answer - but absolute claims like this are just total rubbish
and no substitute.
- COPP'S HALF TRUTHS
Copp recommends the "fetal position" in order to "survive in a smaller void".
The idea of being small is fine. Getting down low prevents falling injuries, and
making yourself a smaller target means there is less to be hit. However, when
we tried this informally in Turkey on an earthquake simulation shake table, the
"curled up in a ball" fetal position made us prone to rolling around. This didn't
actually feel safe to us. What felt much safer was to get down as low as
possible on our knees and shins so that we had some control over our
movements and could still crawl to a more secure place.
Indications from research in Kocaeli is that Copp may be right in his advice to
get down "next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress
slightly but leave a void next to it." Many Kocaeli survivors would agree that
this would have been both possible and safe in that earthquake. This is a good
hypothesis that should be further investigated.
Copp says "Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in
during an earthquake." He's right... They're also the worst in case of fire after
an earthquake. So while we those in wooden homes can take some comfort,
be prepared to put out fires when they are still small with fire extinguishers
and blankets.
Copp says "If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs,
simply roll off the bed." Actually, the safest people in earthquakes in both
California and Turkey were those who stayed in bed. If the building tilts and
the bed moves... the foot of the bed probably isn't the best place to be.
Copp says that he "discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper
offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact."
Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper. This might be good
information for the grocery store, but only if the shelves are bolted to the floor
or ceiling. Frankly if you live in a building that you think is a collapse risk,
ethically the only good advice is to suggest that you to find another place to
live, rather than to rely on a pile of paper or a container of books in every
room to save your life. This may seem pathetic, but at least 3 different
publications in Turkey have photos of people crouching down next to
enormous containers of paper products in the middle of their living rooms.
Let's get real - our job is to live with earthquakes. This kind of advice makes
the tasks of public education and preparedness harder than it already is.
Copp's one piece of good advice: "Never go to the stairs." That, as it happens,
is sound advice.
- SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
- Think through personal scenarios in the places you live and work. What
spots seem safer than others?
- Make your environment safer by fastening tall and heavy furniture and
audiovisual equipment, Move heavy objects down low.
- Keep shoes and flashlight by your bed.
- During the shaking, drop down to the ground. Cover your head and neck.
Hold on to your cover or something stable.
Why do we persist in saying these things? What is the proof? Research into
the causes of deaths and injuries in several countries has now shown several
important patterns:
- Fatalities are almost always associated with head, neck and chest injuries.
These are the most vulnerable areas of the body that need to be protected.
- Many injuries are caused by falling. If you get down yourself, or brace
yourself, you can avoid falling.
- A huge proportion of night time injuries a re to feet and legs... even in
places with minor damage.... picture frame on floor, no shoes, no lights,
parents/children trying to find each other in the dark....
- At least half of all injuries are from non-structural objects. Many of these
injuries are serious, made more so by the intense demand on limited medical
resources. We can't be complacent about any unnecessary injuries when
limited medical resources will be needed to save lives.
- The smaller target you present to falling objects the less chance there is of
something hitting you.
- AND NOW THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT...
Urban earthquake mitigation requires all of us to be involved in three major
activities: assessment and planning, reducing our physical risks, and
developing our ability to respond.
ASSESS & PLAN
(Think and act now.)
- Sit down with your family and discuss possible scenarios
- Decide on meeting places inside and outside of your neighborhood
- Identify an "out-of-area contact" for quicker communication and peace of mind.
- Designate others nearby to pick up your child from school in case of
emergency, and make a meeting plan with them.
PROTECT YOURSELF PHYSICALLY
(Take measures to reduce your physical risks.)
- If you aren't sure about the structural soundness of you home, workplace or
school, have it assessed by a qualified engineer.
- Retrofit where possible. Move out, and tear down where not possible.
- Fasten large and heavy furniture
- Secure water heaters
- Have a fire extinguisher on each floor and have it serviced regularly.
DEVELOP YOUR ABILITY TO RESPOND
(Be ready to be part of the solution.)
- Have enough water, food, and prescription medications for a week.
- Keep a first aid kit
- Check your "Go Bag" in your car and by your door.
Disaster preparedness is not accomplished overnight. It takes place in a series
of small steps taken at home, at work, at school, in your neighborhood and in
your region. It is accomplished by actions by individuals, families,
organizations, institutions, and government. The 100th anniversary of the
1906 San Francisco earthquake is not far away. This is a good time to make
yourself a promise, and take one of these small steps today.
- Albuquerque Journal (2004) July 11, 12, 13, 14. Online at http://www.abqjournal.com/terror/196540nm07-11-04.htm
- American Red Cross (2004) American Red Cross response to "Triangle of Life"
by Doug Copp. Online at http://www2.bpaonline.org/Emergencyprep/arc-on-doug-copp.html.
- Associated Press (2004) July 12. Online at
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=41&id=32725
and
http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=35319&format=
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Petal, Marla (2004) Urban Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness: The 1999
Kocaeli Earthquake, doctoral dissertation, Department of Urban Planning, UCLA.
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State of California, Governor's Office of Emergency Services, (2004) Sept. 7.
Memorandum to Operational Area Coordinators. Subject: Duck, Cover and
Hold Procedure.
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Rocky Lopes, PhD
Manager, Community Disaster Education
American Red Cross National Headquarters
Recently it has been brought to my attention that an email from Doug Copp, titled "Triangle of Life," is making its rounds again
on the Internet. "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is CORRECT, accurate, and APPROPRIATE for use in the United States for Earthquake
safety. Mr. Copp's assertions in his message that everyone is always crushed if they get under something is incorrect.
Recently, the American Red Cross became aware of a challenge to the earthquake safety advice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On." This
is according to information from Mr. Doug Copp, the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of American Rescue Team International
(a private company not affiliated with the U.S. Government or other agency.) He says that going underneath objects during an
earthquake [as in children being told to get under their desks at school] is very dangerous, and fatal should the building
collapse in a strong earthquake. He also states that "everyone who gets under a doorway when a building collapses is killed."
He further states that "if you are in bed when an earthquake happens, to roll out of bed next to it," and he also says that
"If an earthquake happens while you are watching television and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window,
then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair." These recommendations are inaccurate for
application in the United States and inconsistent with information developed through earthquake research. Mr. Copp based his
statements on observations of damage to buildings after an earthquake in Turkey. It is like "apples and oranges" to compare
building construction standards, techniques, engineering principles, and construction materials between Turkey and the United
States.
We at the American Red Cross have studied the research on the topic of earthquake safety for many years. We have benefited from
extensive research done by the California Office of Emergency Services, California Seismic Safety Commission, professional and
academic research organizations, and emergency management agencies, who have also studied the recommendation to "drop, cover,
and hold on!" during the shaking of an earthquake. Personally, I have also benefited from those who preceded me in doing
earthquake education in California since the Field Act was passed in 1933.
What the claims made by Mr. Copp of ARTI, Inc., does not seem to distinguish is that the recommendation to "drop, cover,
and hold on!" is a U.S.-based recommendation based on U.S. Building Codes and construction standards. Much research in
the United States has confirmed that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On!" has saved lives in the United States. Engineering
researchers have demonstrated that very few buildings collapse or "pancake" in the U.S. as they might do in other
countries. Using a web site to show one picture of one U.S. building that had a partial collapse after a major quake
in an area with thousands of buildings that did not collapse during the same quake is inappropriate and misleading.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which collects data on injuries and deaths from all
reportable causes in the U.S., as well as data from three University-based studies performed after the Loma Prieta
(September, 1989) and Northridge (January, 1994) earthquakes in California, the following data are indicated: Loma Prieta:
63 deaths, approximately 3,700 people were injured. Most injuries happened as a result of the collapse of the Cypress
Street section of I-880 in Oakland. Northridge: 57 deaths, 1,500 serious injuries. Most injuries were from falls caused by
people trying to get out of their homes, or serious cuts and broken bones when people ran, barefooted, over broken glass
(the earthquake happened in the early morning on a federal holiday when many people were still in bed.) There were millions
of people in each of these earthquake-affected areas, and of those millions, many of them reported to have "dropped,
covered, and held on" during the shaking of the earthquake.
We contend that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" indeed SAVED lives, not killed people. Because the research continues to
demonstrate that, in the U.S., "Drop, Cover, and Hold On!" works, the American Red Cross remains behind that recommendation.
It is the simplest, reliable, and easiest method to teach people, including children.
The American Red Cross has not recommended use of a doorway for earthquake protection for more than a decade. The problem
is that many doorways are not built into the structural integrity of a building, and may not offer protection. Also,
simply put, doorways are not suitable for more than one person at a time.
The Red Cross, remaining consistent with the information published in "Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages,"
(visit Talking About Disaster:
Guide for Standard Messages [2006]) states that if you are in bed when an earthquake happens, remain there.
Rolling out of bed may lead to being injured by debris on the floor next to the bed. If you have done a good job of earthquake
mitigation (that is, removing pictures or mirrors that could fall on a bed; anchoring tall bedroom furniture to wall studs,
and the like), then you are safer to stay in bed rather than roll out of it during the shaking of an earthquake.
Also, the Red Cross strongly advises not try to move (that is, escape) during the shaking of an earthquake. The more and
the longer distance that someone tries to move, the more likely they are to become injured by falling or flying debris,
or by tripping, falling, or getting cut by damaged floors, walls, and items in the path of escape. Identifying potential
"void areas" and planning on using them for earthquake protection is more difficult to teach, and hard to remember for
people who are not educated in earthquake engineering principles. The Red Cross is not saying that identifying potential
voids is wrong or inappropriate. What we are saying is that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On!" is NOT wrong -- in the United States.
The American Red Cross, being a U.S.-based organization, does not extend its recommendations to apply in other countries.
What works here may not work elsewhere, so there is no dispute that the "void identification method" or the "Triangle of Life"
may indeed be the best thing to teach in other countries where the risk of building collapse, even in moderate earthquakes,
is great. |
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British Columbia experiences over 1,200 earthquakes a year, 300 of which occur in the lower mainland and on Vancouver island. Almost all of these earthquakes are too small to be felt. However,
a stronger earthquake could occur at any time. It may happen during the day or at night, on a weekend or a workday, in any season and in any weather condition.
British Columbia is vulnerable to two types of earthquakes: those occurring within the earth’s crustal plates and those occurring at the interface between crustal plates. Earthquakes
that originate within a plate are seldom greater than magnitude 7.5 and typically shake for less than one minute. In contrast, earthquakes that originate between plates are usually
larger than magnitude 8.0 and the shaking may last as long as 3 or 4 minutes.
British Columbia is vulnerable to the largest type of earthquake called a “subduction” quake, which occurs between two plates. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is located approximately
100 kilometres west of Vancouver Island and earthquakes here recur every 550 years on average. The range of recurrence, however, varies from 200 years to 900 years. The last subduction
earthquake was in January 1700 – 304 years ago.
The most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Canada is a magnitude 8.1 earthquake in the Queen Charlotte Islands--and the largest earthquake likely to have occurred in Canada is
the 1700 Cascadia Earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 9.0.
What’s the largest earthquake possible?
The largest earthquakes recorded on earth are subduction earthquakes -- measuring magnitude 9.5 off the coast of Chile in 1960 and magnitude 9.2 in Alaska in 1964. Generally the size
of an earthquake is controlled by the length of the faults on which they occur. The longer the fault -- the stronger the potential earthquake. Currently, there are no known faults capable
of generating a magnitude 10.0 or larger earthquake.
Information Links
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geolsurv/Surficial/quake
http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/earthquake_preparedness.html
What can I expect during an earthquake?
Hear: Sometimes you’ll hear a bang or rumble before the earth starts shaking--at other times there is no discernable sound to alert you. During the earthquake, it can
be quite noisy as buildings shake and objects move around and bang into one another.
Feel: Often you’ll feel a slight shaking or rumbling to begin with, like the feeling of a truck going by. This may suddenly increase or dissipate within seconds. Take these
few seconds to “Drop, Cover and Hold”…Drop under some heavy furniture or into an alcove, Cover your head and torso as best you can to prevent being hit by falling objects and Hold
onto the object covering you so that you remain covered.
See: Pets may act strange or restless before an earthquake. During a stronger earthquake, you may see trees and buildings shaking--and possibly some damage like falling bricks,
signs or windows. You may even see waves moving across the ground. Very strong earthquakes are likely to cause damage to infrastructure, roads, buildings and utilities.
Smell: You may smell gas, sewage, or smoke from fires igniting following the earthquake.
Do I know how to protect myself during an earthquake?
- Know in advance where the safest spots are at home, at work or at school, so you can go to one of these places as soon as you feel a quake.
- Indoors, the safest places are beneath sturdy furniture, beside a solid inside wall, or inside an inner hallway.
- Avoid windows. Stay away from heavy objects that can fall from ceilings, shelves and cupboards, or top-heavy furniture that could tip over. Never use an elevator.
- If you're outdoors, stay in the open, away from trees, buildings and power lines.
- You could be driving when a quake hits. Stop your car away from overpasses, bridges and power lines and stay inside your vehicle.
• Once you're in a safe place protect your head and hold on until all motion stops. Lock your wheels if in a wheelchair.
- All members of the family - especially children - should know what to do when an earthquake hits. A practice drill once a year is an excellent safety measure.
What should I do when the motion stops?
- You or others may be injured. Treat yourself first and then assist others.
- If you smell gas, turn it off. Check for any small fires. Turn off the main water tap if necessary. Be aware of other possible hazards, such as broken glass or weakened walls.
- Check your phone and hang up the receiver if it is off the hook. Don't use your phone unless it is a life threatening emergency. Phone lines need to be open for emergency responders.
- If you and your family are OK, check on your neighbours to see if you can offer assistance. You can also put a large "OK" sign in your window to let emergency workers know that
they can concentrate on other houses.
- A battery-operated radio or your car radio will link you to the instructions of emergency workers and news in your community.
- Gather your emergency supplies together. Keep everyone warm, well hydrated, well fed, and rested.
[...] {Read More]
“Drop, Cover and Hold” is the most appropriate response to earthquake shaking in British Columbia.
In North America, only a small percentage of large structures are likely to collapse in moderate to strong--or even major
earthquakes. There may well be a fair amount of non-structural damage such as windows popping, sprinkler system damage,
HVAC system damage, even complete failure of non-structural walls--but most large structures are designed to remain standing.
Most injuries and deaths from earthquakes in North America are the result of moving, toppling, falling objects. The “Drop,
Cover and Hold” drill, therefore, remains the best method of minimizing casualties for the most number of people effected by
an earthquake.
In British Columbia, most of the building stock is made up of single family wood-frame homes. These buildings are not
engineered (i.e. built to an earthquake code) but they are, however, small buildings, made of relatively flexible and
light-weight materials and the “Drop, Cover and Hold” drill remains the most effective means of protecting oneself within
these lighter-weight structures.
One of the most persuasive photographs in support of “Drop, Cover and Hold” is a photo taken of an elementary school
following its collapse in the 1985 Mexico earthquake. In the photo, the second and third floors of the school have lost
all structural support and are "pancaked" down on one another. The collapsed floors are only supported by the school
desks which provided about half a metre to a metre of crawl space for safe egress.
“Drop, Cover and Hold”, is the best and most appropriate advice for minimizing casualties in the event of an earthquake
in British Columbia. |
| TO: | OPERATIONAL AREA COORDINATORS |
FROM: |
Richard Eisner, Coastal Regional Administrator
Stephen Sellers, Southern Regional Administrator
Charles Wynne, Inland Regional Administrator |
DATE: |
September 7, 2004 |
SUBJECT: |
DUCK, COVER AND HOLD PROCEDURE |
Recently, you may have received information via email and other sources promoting a protective measure
called the “triangle of life” and questioning the “duck, cover and hold” procedure recommended for use
during earthquakes here in California and in other areas of the United States.
Because buildings constructed in California are built to much stricter codes and standards than those in the
rest of the United States and those in other countries, including Mexico, Iran and Turkey, collapses here
are very rare.
Extensive research into the causes of earthquake injuries and deaths supports the use of the Duck Cover
and Hold procedure recommended by OES, the California Seismic Safety Commission and the American
Red Cross.
Most injuries in California earthquakes occur when building occupants attempt to exit buildings or move to
a different location in the building. In the recent San Simeon earthquake, two people were crushed by
falling debris when they exited the building. Studies of the 1979 El Centro, 1987 Whittier, 1989 Loma
Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes confirm this pattern of injuries, and that use of the Duck Cover and
Hold procedure reduces the likelihood of serious injury from a collapsed building and falling objects.
After each disaster, OES attempts to learn from behavioral research and other studies, and apply lessons
learned into safety action recommendations.
There is, of course, no guarantee that people will not be injured in an earthquake. Earthquakes can shake
buildings violently and cause extensive damage. The key to injury prevention is making sure buildings are
safe, contents are secured, and occupants are trained to duck cover and hold.
Please share this information with jurisdictions and special districts within your operational area. Feel free
to contact one of us if you have any questions or need additional information. |
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