Earthquake and Volcano Safety

[selchie]

There were a couple of recent threads in which people expressed concern about earthquakes & volcanoes. I've tracked down a couple of resources which folks may want to check out so that they can be prepared in the event of an earthquake.

Oodles of natural hazard info:
Volcanoes in New Zealand: GNS Science Limited
http://www.fema.gov/hazards/

Personal safety:
http://www.nzsee.org.nz/PUBS/eqinstructions.html
http://www.fema.gov/hazards/earthquakes/quakef.shtm
http://www.fema.gov/hazards/volcanoes/volcanof.shtm

Seismic saftey for buildings: http://www.fema.gov/hazards/earthqua...p/seismic.shtm

For those of you who like to follow geological hazards in NZ: http://www.govt.nz/record?tid=1&...;recordid=5436

There are all kinds of interesting sites out there. Check them out. Knowledge is power, and all that.

If you are in Wellington, go to Te Papa and check out the display they have of their foundation's "shock absorbers". Cool stuff.

[Welshgirl]

Thanks for that info Selchie. In NZ, the Ministry of Civil Defence deal with emergencies created by natural disasters. They highly recommened everyone (even those who are not living in 'at-risk' areas) is prepared for an emergency.

http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/memwebsite.NSF - this link will take you to the Civil Defence website - if you click on 'Being Prepared', then 'What To Do', then take your pick from the options given..... everything from basic emergency supplies to becoming a volunteer!

South Island's looking good  

From NZ Herald

Mt Taranaki eruption overdue say scientists
24.10.05
By Rebecca Walsh

Mt Taranaki is "overdue" to erupt and researchers say when it does it is likely to cover much of the North Island in a blanket of ash and disrupt airports, power and water supplies.

The volcano has shown little or no sign of activity for 200 years, but new research by Dr Shane Cronin, of the Institute of Natural Resources at Massey, suggests it has erupted at least once every 90 years on average for the past 9000 years, with a major eruption every 500 years.  The research indicated the last major eruption was in 1655 with smaller eruptions recorded in 1755 and possibly the early 1800s.

Dr Cronin, who completed the research with PhD student Michael Turner, extracted and analysed core sediment samples from Lake Umutekai, about 25km northeast of the volcano.  The mountain's smaller eruptions were similar to that of Mt Ruapehu in 1995-96 and would have showered New Plymouth with pumice and rock fragments the size of raisins.

"An eruption of this scale would undoubtedly cause substantial disruption to much of the North Island, cutting power supplies, damaging transmission lines, water supplies and stormwater," said Dr Cronin.

North Island airline flight paths would be disrupted and the prevailing southwesterly wind was likely to move the ash cloud over Auckland, closing the international airport.   The ash could damage pasture, crops and orchards. It was likely to block air filters on milking shed cooling plants and limit farmers' ability to store milk - 20 per cent of the country's dairy cattle are in the Taranaki region.

Dr Cronin said there was only statistical evidence to suggest an eruption but "with volcanic activity, the past is the key to the future".   Regular monitoring should give at least six days and possibly up to a month's warning of an eruption.  Gary Bedford, director of environment quality for the Taranaki Regional Council, welcomed the research but disputed claims that an eruption was overdue.

The greatest risk to the area in the next five to 10 years was a pandemic such as avian flu, he said.

Mt Taranaki was taken "very seriously" and the council recognised it was a question of when, not if, an eruption happened, Mr Bedford said.   The council was part of GeoNet, which monitored the mountain using six seismographs in the region.

"We are assured by the experts the nature of an eruption from Taranaki would be a slow build-up and much more likely to be a steady release than a sudden violent eruption that devastates the world overnight, so that gives us quite a degree of reassurance."

Shane Bayley, emergency management officer for the council, said it had a volcanic strategy in place, which included six levels of alert.  Currently the alert level was at zero but if the evidence suggested an eruption was likely - close to level 3 - between 20,000 and 40,000 people would be evacuated from the area.

Sleeping giant

* At 2518m, Mt Taranaki is the second-highest volcano in New Zealand (Mt Ruapehu is 2797m).

* Taranaki has a major eruption every 500 years.

* The last big blowout was in 1655.

* According to Maori legend, Taranaki was banished from the Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe cluster in the central North Island after a fight for the affections of the beautiful Mt Pihanga. Taranaki fled to the coast.

Maybe its been mentioned before, but did you know that the NZ Gov indemnifies house-owners for earthquake damage? Not sure if that will settle peoples minds, knowing that the Govt knows there is a good chance that properties will be effacted. It's only upto $100K, with top-up insurance available.

I think I am correct, but I am sure you all will let me know otherwise.

Maybe its been mentioned before, but did you know that the NZ Gov indemnifies house-owners for earthquake damage? Not sure if that will settle peoples minds, knowing that the Govt knows there is a good chance that properties will be effacted. It's only upto $100K, with top-up insurance available.

I think I am correct, but I am sure you all will let me know otherwise.

You can get more info on EQC - Welcome

A leaftlet was sent through the post advising of the earthquake/volcanic/landslide/tsunami/flood/storm risks of your particular area. It reminds you to look at the Yellow Pages for preparation for emergencies and gives info on automatic insurance cover as part of your home and/or contents insurance, up to $100,000 + GST on your home and $20,000 +GST on your contents. You also get some cover for your section.

Their claims for 1997-2005 amounted to 28,039 - $123.1m - the majority through earthquake and landslip.

It appears as though it's covered through home and fire insurance. Good. I hope the premiums are more reasonable than in California. Earthquake insurance is optional here. Hardly anyone adds it to their homeowner policy, but then want the government and insurance providers to bail them out when their house gets ruined. Thus, my rates are through the roof. *Gripe, gripe, gripe*.

According to Maori legend, Taranaki was banished from the Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe cluster in the central North Island after a fight for the affections of the beautiful Mt Pihanga. Taranaki fled to the coast.

Poor Taranaki. Oh well, as they say "all is fair in love and lava".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seems that some of the story was left out.....

"Jimmy Taranaki was banished for falling in love with Willy Tongariro’s wife, a smaller volcano called Fanny Pihanga."

Tisk tisk Mr. Taranaki. Or is that Samurai Taranaki?

Ok, I admit, the names were added. But other than Jimmy Willy and Fanny that was from: New Zealand Travel Article: 100% Pure

A pic of Pihanga:


Tongariro:


Taranaki:

Earthquakes shake lower North Island
14 December 2005

Two substantial earthquakes shook the lower North Island yesterday but neither caused significant damage. An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale rattled the Wellington region at 9.09pm last night.

The quake, which was about 30 kilometres deep, was centred 10km northeast of Porirua and 20km southwest of Paraparaumu. It was felt in Lower Hutt, Porirua, Wellington and the Kapiti Coast. GNS Science duty seismologist Brian Ferris said there were also isolated reports of shakes from Marlborough, Eketahuna and Dannevirke.

"We've had many felt reports, but very little damage. A few people have reported things falling off shelves, but that's about it."

Early yesterday morning, another quake - reaching 5 on the Richter scale - struck 20km east of Pahiatua. It was felt throughout the lower North Island. The 25-kilometre-deep earthquake, struck at 2.55am. Mr Ferris said the two quakes were quite a distance apart and unrelated. A spate of quakes yesterday in the wider Asia-Pacific region - Fiji, the Hindu Kush and Japan - were also unrelated.

A fire communications spokesman said they had received no reports of damage from last night's second quake. Quakes around 5 on the Richter scale are generally felt widely, and can cause damage near their epicentre

A site in NZ that provide useful earthquake resources, also cover some aspects of a tsunami, landslides, volcanic and hydrothermal activities.

http://www.eq-iq.org.nz/iqhome.aspx

Pulsarblu

Earthquakes shake lower North Island
14 December 2005  

Two substantial earthquakes shook the lower North Island yesterday but neither caused significant damage. An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale rattled the Wellington region at 9.09pm last night.

The quake, which was about 30 kilometres deep, was centred 10km northeast of Porirua and 20km southwest of Paraparaumu. It was felt in Lower Hutt, Porirua, Wellington and the Kapiti Coast. GNS Science duty seismologist Brian Ferris said there were also isolated reports of shakes from Marlborough, Eketahuna and Dannevirke.

This one gave us a good shake in our new house! The first one here yet! We have had a few shakes here in Welly the last few weeks - only small ones while we've been at work - I only noticed them cos my computer monitor started wobbling! But this one in the evening was the biggest one for a while - and only 10ks up the road from us here!!