INTENSITY
• is a measure of the strength of an earthquake. It is
expressed by a number on an arbitrary scale, such
as the Richter scale or the moment magnitude
scale. The higher the number, the stronger the
earthquake. For example, an earthquake with a
magnitude of 6 is ten times stronger than an
earthquake with a magnitude of 5
INTENSITY AT SCALE
Intensity Scale Shaking Description
I Scarcely Perceptible Perceptible to people under
favorable circumstances.
Delicately balanced objects
are disturbed slightly. Still
Water in containers oscillates
slowly.
II Slightly Felt Felt by few individuals at rest
indoors. Hanging objects
swing slightly. Still Water in
containers oscillates
noticeably.
III Weak Felt by many people indoors
especially in upper floors of
buildings. Vibration is felt like
one passing of a light truck.
Dizziness and nausea are
experienced by some people.
Hanging objects swing
moderately. Still water in
containers oscillates
moderately.
IV Moderately Strong Felt generally by people
indoors and by some people
outdoors. Light sleepers are
awakened. Vibration is felt like
a passing of heavy truck.
Hanging objects swing
considerably. Dinner, plates,
glasses, windows and doors
rattle. Floors and walls of
wood framed buildings creak.
Standing motor cars may rock
slightly. Liquids in containers
are slightly disturbed. Water in
containers oscillate strongly.
Rumbling sound may
sometimes be heard.
V Strong Generally felt by most people
indoors and outdoors. Many
sleeping people are
awakened. Some are
frightened, some run
outdoors. Strong shaking and
rocking felt throughout
building. Hanging objects
swing violently. Dining utensils
clatter and clink; some are
broken. Small, light and
unstable objects may fall or
overturn. Liquids spill from
filled open containers.
Standing vehicles rock
noticeably. Shaking of leaves
and twigs of trees are
noticeable.
VI Very Strong Many people are frightened;
many run outdoors. Some
people lose their balance.
motorists feel like driving in
flat tires. Heavy objects or
furniture move or may be
shifted. Small church bells
may ring. Wall plaster may
crack. Very old or poorly built
houses and man-made
structures are slightly
damaged though well-built
structures are not affected.
Limited rockfalls and rolling
boulders occur in hilly to
mountainous areas and
escarpments. Trees are
noticeably shaken.
VII Destructive Most people are frightened
and run outdoors. People find
it difficult to stand in upper
floors. Heavy objects and
furniture overturn or topple.
Big church bells may ring. Old
or poorly-built structures
suffer considerable damage.
Some well-built structures are
slightly damaged. Some
cracks may appear on dikes,
fish ponds, road surface, or
concrete hollow block walls.
Limited liquefaction, lateral
spreading and landslides are
observed. Trees are shaken
strongly. (Liquefaction is a
process by which loose
saturated sand lose strength
during an earthquake and
behave like liquid).
VIII Very Destructive People are panicky. People find
it difficult to stand even
outdoors. Many well-built
buildings are considerably
damaged. Concrete dikes and
foundation of bridges are
destroyed by ground settling
or toppling. Railway tracks are
bent or broken. Tombstones
may be displaced, twisted or
overturned. Utility posts,
towers and monuments mat
tilt or topple. Water and sewer
pipes may be bent, twisted or
broken. Liquefaction and
lateral spreading cause man-
made structure to sink, tilt or
topple. Fissures and faults
rapture may be observed.
Trees are violently shaken.
Water splash or stop over
dikes or banks of rivers.
IX Devastating People are forcibly thrown to
ground. Many cry and shake
with fear. Most buildings are
totally damaged. bridges and
elevated concrete structures
are toppled or destroyed.
Numerous utility posts, towers
and monument are tilted,
toppled or broken. Water
sewer pipes are bent, twisted
or broken. Landslides and
liquefaction with lateral
spreadings and sandboils are
widespread. the ground is
distorted into undulations.
Trees are shaken very
violently with some toppled or
broken. Boulders are
commonly thrown out. River
water splashes violently on
slops over dikes and banks.
X Completely Devastating Practically all man-made
structures are destroyed.
Massive landslides and
liquefaction, large scale
subsidence and uplifting of
land forms and many ground
fissures are observed.
Changes in river courses and
destructive seiches in large
lakes occur. Many trees are
toppled, broken and uprooted.
TSUNAMI
TSUNAMI
• series of powerful waves that are
caused by the displacement of a large
volume of water in the ocean or a lake.
Tsunamis can be triggered by
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
landslides, meteorite impacts, or other
disturbances under or near the water
TSUNAMI
• Tsunamis can travel very fast across
the ocean, reaching speeds of up to
500 miles per hour (805 kilometers per
hour), and can have devastating effects
when they hit the shore. Tsunamis can
cause flooding, erosion, damage to
buildings and infrastructure, and loss of
HOW TSUNAMI OCCURS
DISASTERS IN HUMAN HISTORY
• Tsunamis are one of the most destructive natural
disasters in human history. One of the worst
examples was the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which
was caused by a massive earthquake off the coast of
Indonesia. This tsunami killed more than 230,000
people in 14 countries and affected millions more.
TSUNAMI RISKS
• Flooding
• Contamination of drinking water
• Fires from ruptured tanks or gas lines
• Loss of vital community infrastructure
• Complete devastation of coastal areas
• Death
CERT Basic Training
Unit 1: Tsunamis
19
TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS
• Know risk and “coastal clues”
• Plan and practice evacuation routes
• Discuss tsunamis with your family
• Use Radio
CERT Basic Training
Unit 1: Tsunamis
20
TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS
• If strong, coastal earthquake occurs:
• Drop, cover, and hold
• When shaking stops, evacuate quickly to
higher ground away from coast, up to two
miles inland
• Gather your family.
• Leave everything else behind.
• Avoid downed power lines, buildings, and
CERT Basic Training
Unit 1: Tsunamis
21
IF A WARNING IS ISSUED
• If in tsunami risk area, evacuate immediately.
• Follow instructions issued by local authorities.
• Get to higher ground as far inland as possible.
CERT Basic Training
Unit 1: Tsunamis
22
IF A WARNING IS ISSUED
• Listen to Radio or Coast Guard emergency
frequency station.
• Return home only after local officials tell you that
it is safe.
• If already out on ocean, be sure to get as far from
coast as possible.
CERT Basic Training
Unit 1: Tsunamis
23
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS
• Develop home earthquake plan
• Conduct earthquake drills
• Develop plan for reuniting family members
• Develop family communication plan
• Keep supplies on hand
• Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves
• Secure bookshelves and water heaters
• Install flexible pipe
• Move beds away from windows
• Move or secure hanging objects over beds, sofas, or
chairs
• Keep shoes and flashlight under bed
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE
• Drop, cover, and hold
• If indoors, stay there until shaking stops
• If outdoors, find a spot away from buildings,
trees, streetlights, power lines, and overpasses
• If in a vehicle, drive to clear spot and stop
AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
• First:
• Check selves for injuries
• Protect selves from further danger
• Then:
• Extinguish small fires
• Clean up spills
• Inspect home for damage
• Help neighbors
• Tune to Emergency Alert System
• Expect aftershocks