Did you know?
There was NO earthquakes lasting more than 1 minute in the Philippines. The most destructive so far, is the 1990 Luzon Earthquake (7.8 magnitude) lasting only 45 seconds.
We will try to make it as non-technical friendly as we can. We hope to make this a one-stop article about the earthquake in the Philippines.
Earthquake is one of the devastating calamities that we can experience. What makes it even more catastrophic is that we do not know when one will hit. Thus, all we can do is to be prepared. Our houses are equipped and planned by the professionals to withstand one.
In the recorded history of the Philippines, the most devastating earthquake was in Moro Gulf, Mindanao. It happened last August 17, 1976 at around 12:11 in the morning, with a magnitude of 7.9. Yes, just about 11 minutes after midnight where most of the us are asleep. It happed so swiftly that the recorded death were almost 8,000 people. What would you do if such thing happens again?
That is the reason why the government has annual earthquake drills. Do not forget your duck, hold, cover. BUT, is it enough?
You may also want to check the Top Reasons for Buildings or Houses to Collapse.
Mitigation or prevention is always better than cure, they said. But, can we prevent earthquakes? For now, we cannot. However, we can mitigate the damages it could incur. How do we do it? Well, everyone in the construction and engineering sector has been doing its research. We have been adopting the things the we find would mitigate building damage, or worse, collapse in case of extreme seismic movements.
Some of the technology that we found were the following:
Base Isolation Systems
This involves disconnection the building structure from the moving ground by placing isolators or flexible bearings (normally rubber, ball, or spring) between the building foundation and superstructure. These isolators disperse and absorb seismic energy, by reducing the transmission of forces to the structure. This is commonly adopted in high rise buildings
Damping Systems
When a building is subjected to earthquake, wind, or any other external forces, damping systems involves using a sensor to detect these forces to counter them. Thus, it is a system that makes a building stable by minimizing its potential sway and movements. Damping systems proved to eliminate vibrations. One of the well-known buildings that is using this system is the Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
Reinforced Concrete and Steel Frames
This is the traditional way of mitigating earthquake. But it comes with steep cost and design limitations. Using reinforced concrete and steel structures provides increased strength and flexibility, helping buildings withstand seismic forces. Special design considerations are made to ensure these materials can flex without failing during an earthquake
Shear Walls
These are vertical elements within a building that resist lateral forces. Properly designed shear walls can significantly enhance a building’s seismic performance. You would normally see shear walls (sometimes called core walls), as the thick walls for elevators and stairs.
Cross-Bracing
As the name implies, cross bracings are diagonal braces in the form of X or V patterns which is incorporated into a building’s structure to improve its lateral stiffness and resistance to seismic forces. You can typically see this cross bracing in the external part of the building.
These are so far some of the most common innovations that we are now using that are proven to create earthquake resistant buildings.
Did you know that Earthquake Early Warning Systems exist?
As the name implies, Earthquake Early Warning System DOES NOT predict earthquakes, but they can provide valuable seconds to minutes of advance notice before seismic waves arrive, allowing occupants near the epicenter of the seismic activity to evacuate and shut down critical systems, like shutting off gas lines and slowing down running trains
Nobody knows when earthquakes will arrive and no one can stop it, but, with some simple techniques, you can lessen its damage to your properties.
Keep in mind that we are in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Our country is in the Pacific Ring of Fire. With the volcanoes, mountains, and ocean trenches forming an arc or a “ring” on the contents surrounding the Pacific Ocean, we are prone to ground movements due to its seismic activity. We believe you would like to lessen damages to your property as we continue to prepare ourselves when the “Big One” arrives.
Here are some of the fool-proof tips to prevent severe damage to your houses in the event of strong earthquake in the Philippines:
- Install safety film to glass windows. This way, if glasses are broken, it won’t shatter and so are the injuries it may cause.
- Hang large pictures, wall decorations, and mirrors into the wall using closed hooks.
- Secure bulky and expensive appliances to walls using cables, straps, or bolts.
- Consider installing (if you haven’t got one) automatic shut off valve that cuts off gas supply in the event of earthquakes.
- Consult a professional to valuate and retrofit older homes to met current earthquake standards.
- Have a to-go emergency disaster kit, medical kit, and emergency exit plan. This will be very helpful not just in the event of an earthquake but also in all calamities.
- Educate yourself, including all family members, especially the young ones on what to do during and after an earthquake.
- Make it a habit to do a house regular maintenance. Clean your roof gutter, inspect key structural members for cracks, insect infestations, and others
- If in doubt, consult with a structural engineer or other professionals to assess and strengthen your property’s earthquake resistance.
- Get a property insurance.
Reducing damage to your home before, during, and after an earthquake involves a combination of structural reinforcements, proper planning, and securing belongings.
What do to during an earthquake?
Here are three simple things to do during an earthquake.
- Duck, hold, and cover. When you feel an earthquake, drop to the ground, hold sturdy furniture or against any interior walls, and hold until the ground shaking stops. This will help you prevent tripping or falling.
- Stay away from glass windows and doors, or anything that might fall into you. Glass can shatter into you and can cause injuries. Things overhead like chandeliers can also fall into you. Stay away from them. If you are outdoor, stay away from any posts, trees, and anything that may fall down.
- Be ready for potential aftershocks. Aftershocks are oftentimes smaller tremors. This could happen after a few minutes, hours, or even days after the main earthquake. Again, beware for aftershocks and take the same safety precautions.
What to do if your property was hit earthquakes?
We cannot stress it enough. Ask a professional (preferably structural engineers).
Believe it or not, not all cracks that you see in your house’s columns and beams are hazardous. How do you know which is? Again, ask a professional. Not just some professional but preferably a seasoned structural engineer that specializes in such.
Ask for a structural engineer specializing in seismic activities and earthquakes to come visit your house. It is difficult to do second guessing. Investing a little of your savings to hire one is worth it. Because, you can ask all the questions that you have and you know that the answers you get is truly form the expert.
Normally, the structural engineer will create a report, input some advice, and create a plan to retrofit structural members that need mitigations. Go get one!
Did you know?
If your house is design by the right professionals, structural engineers have a means to determine and analyze how your house responds to seismic forces using advanced computer modeling and simulations. Structural engineers use sophisticated applications simulate how structural members responds to earthquakes (and its respective intensity). This helps them design a more accurate, economical, and effective seismic designs.
Did you know?
DOST-PHILVOLCS has a data that is provided to the public (for a certain fee) that determines if your parcel of land (or land that you are planning to purchase), has any earthquake and/or volcanic threat is present. It goes by the name PHILVOLCS Hazard Assessment Services, abbreviated as HAS.
Stay safe everyone!
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Disclaimer
We do not warrant that the information on this website is correct, complete, or accurate; nor do we promise to ensure that the website and its content remains up-to-date.
References
https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/earthquakes/earthquake-early-warning-systems
https://www.philatlas.com/articles/most-severe-earthquakes.html
https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/search
https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-data?country=PHILIPPINES