Next Generation Scenarios: Studies and Guidance

Global

A scenario can tell a story of a probable-but-hypothetical disaster. By showing specific consequences–to people, buildings, infrastructure, and land–this tool can make complex data understandable for decision-makers, most of whom are not specialists in technical fields.

Ludlow Castle School Retrofit

New Delhi, India

Delhi is located in a high seismic hazard zone, and thousands of school buildings are vulnerable to severe damage in an earthquake. We guided the seismic retrofit at a large school in the Delhi region, as part of a project to improve earthquake preparedness in the nation’s capital.

Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Beneficiary Needs

Global

A study of earthquake risk reduction activities, needs, and barriers, to help guide GEM’s future tool and resource development for users who are not risk assessment experts.

Rapid Diagnostic of School Infrastructure

Haiti

Findings about schools' vulnerability to natural hazards, climate change, and infrastructure deficiencies will inform plans to make schools safer and more resilient.

Urban Earthquake Risk Management in Central Asia and Caucasus

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

International technical experts and regional policymakers in central asia developed strategies to manage very high seismic risk in capital cities of five new countries, formerly part of the USSR..

Designing a Tsunami Evacuation Park

Indonesia

Designed an innovative tsunami refuge in walking distance of dense neighborhoods where people do not have easy access to natural high ground. The elevated mound houses a park for daily use.

Tsunami Preparedness Guidebook

Global

Developed a road map for people who want to organize, educate, and lead local tsunami preparedness campaigns. Includes earth science, social science and emergency planning.

Global Earthquake Safety Initiative

Global

Technical information about likely lethality of earthquakes in 21 cities-- including vulnerable aspects of the built environment, schools and hospitals--to help the cities prioritize risk mitigation efforts.

Risk Assessment Tools for Diagnosis of Urban Areas (RADIUS)

Ecuador, Mexico, Chile

Earthquake scenarios and action plans provide city-specific objectives for disaster preparedness and mitigation, and were developed with government, science, business and academic sectors.

Vertical Evacuation Structures for Tsunamis

Padang, Indonesia

Studied the feasibility of vertical evacuation solutions in Padang for safety during tsunamis. This could save lives in coastal cities where high ground does not exist or people do not have time to evacuate.

Quito Earthquake Risk Management Plan

Quito, Ecuador

Scientists, engineers and planners together developed a likely scenario of earthquake impact to Quito, and based on this local leaders planned programs to mitigate that risk.

Supporting Thimphu’s Path to Safer Buildings

Bhutan

Using models to identify and quantify building damage from two likely earthquakes affecting the capital city, the scenarios will inform land use planning and building codes to reduce risk.

Increasing Resilience to Earthquakes and Landslides in Shaanxi Province

China

Created a disaster scenario that vividly depicts likely casualties, damages, and actions to reduce risk. Chinese partners learned to develop this tool for public awareness and risk-informed planning.

Mason Training on Earthquake-Resistant Construction

Dadeldhura, Nepal

Mansons trained hands-on to build bearing walls and reinforced concrete frames, applying Nepal’s building code that addresses reinforcement in simpler buildings.

Framed Infill Network

Global

Global researchers, engineers, architects, builders and officials developed new design guidance to improve seismic behavior of concrete frames with masonry infill walls, a common building type.

Safety Measures for Landsliding in Kerala

India

Investigations of still dangerous slopes in Idukki, where 2018 landslides damaged thousands of homes. Partnered with Kerala University, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), local officials.

Implementing Aizawl's Landslide Action Plan

India

Local engineers, geologists, and professors learned in intensive field courses how to assess hazard risk, apply safe development regulations and map hazards, and reduce landslide risk.

Reducing Extreme Landslide and Seismic Risk in Aizawl

Aizawl, India

A detailed scenario process engaged leaders and technical professionals in India’s most populous hill city to understand, assess and mitigate Aizawl’s very high risk of landslides and earthquakes.

Infrastructure Knowledge Exchange

Aizawl, Mizoram and Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

Professionals in India and the United States shared best practices on seismic risk management and planning for municipal water utilities, focusing on hill cities with high earthquake hazard.

Kathmandu Hospital Pre and Post Earthquake Assessments Compared

Kathmandu, Nepal

Two Kathmandu hospitals had been assessed for disaster preparedness just before the 2015 M7.8 Gorkha earthquake. Pre- and post-earthquake findings are compared.

Review and Field Test of the Global Hospital Safety Index

Solomon Islands, Nepal

Technical review and field testing of a World Health Organization (WHO) tool to screen hospitals’ vulnerabilities to multiple hazards as well as their level of emergency and disaster preparedness.

Kathmandu Priority Hospitals Seismic Assessment

Kathmandu, Nepal

Prioritized short and long-term changes to improve post-disaster function of hospitals that provide critical medical services for a large number of people.

Hospital Preparedness and Disaster Training

India, Global

A manual and intensive training program for staff to back up utility systems, anchor objects, practice response, and prepare their hospitals to function through disasters.

Hospital Disaster Planning, Preparedness and Training

Bhutan

Emergency planning and realistic disaster simulations for staff at hospitals in Bhutan, plus mitigations to keep the facilities functioning post disaster.

Timoun an Aksyon (Kids in Action)

Cap-Haitien, Haiti

In their own voice and style, youth share new knowledge about extreme earthquake and coastal risks and how to take action for disaster resilience.

Family Preparedness for Earthquakes

Haiti, Dominican Republic

This promoted preparedness steps specific to where people live, and in plain language explained the science behind local risk. Outreach in Kreyol, French, Spanish, and English.

School Seismic Vulnerability Assessments

Amargadhi, Nepal

Findings indicate the extent of risk to schoolchildren in the typical school building types found in a fast-growing municipality in far west Nepal.

Safest Action During an Earthquake

Global, Haiti

A person’s immediate action when an earthquake begins makes a difference in safety. This evidence-based guidance emphasizes protective action for the local context.

Producing Affordable Earthquake Desks

Bhutan

Locally made Earthquake Desks are affordable, withstand heavy loads, and provide safer cover in schools that are not yet earthquake resistant.

Disaster Scenarios for Risk-Informed Planning

West Nepal

Scenarios of a plausible earthquake quantify impacts, including more than 50% of schools damaged, and guide communities to reduce extreme risk before a disaster.

Mentoring Women in Engineering and Geology

Aizawl, India

A screening study of earthquake vulnerabilities and landslide hazards in Aizawl schools showed widespread risks to students, particularly from landslides and in seismically vulnerable private schools.

Students with Visual Impairments Prepare for Disasters

Bhutan

A disaster preparedness plan and drills tailored for students with visual impairments, so they practice how to respond safely during and after emergencies.

Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management

Nepal

One objective was to quantify and plan how to mitigate the high vulnerability of public schools. This led to hands-on training and seismic retrofit of many schools.

Bhutan National School Earthquake Safety Day

Bhutan

An annual learning event and simultaneous national school drill for all schools in Bhutan, which lies in a high seismic zone.

National Action Plans for School and Hospital Earthquake Safety

India, Bhutan

These consensus-based action plans, which include ways to prepare for and reduce risk in schools and health facilities, were adopted into national policy.

Seismic Retrofit of Key Delhi Buildings

Delhi, India

Engineers gained on-the-job experience to design and install retrofit solutions for a large school, which cost less than to rebuild and became a model.

Delhi Area School Earthquake Preparedness

Delhi Area, India

Volunteers from an engineering company’s local office taught students, faculty and parents about disaster risk, preparedness, and how to mitigate specific vulnerabilities in buildings.

Earthquake Safety of the Tibetan Community

Dharamshala, India

An effort to develop seismic strengthening and protect contents for a key building, raise awareness, and prepare schools in the city that is home to the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Annual India School Earthquake Drills

India

Students and staff of Tibetan schools in north India states first participated in a 2009 earthquake drill that now occurs annually and in many more schools across India.

Earthquake Vulnerability of Gujarat Schools

India

This study found significant earthquake vulnerability in Gujarat public school buildings and recommended steps to reduce and mitigate the risk.

School Earthquake Safety in Rural Peru

Chocos, Peru

Villagers helped masons to seismically retrofit the local adobe school. In the process, they learned why and how to build in ways that resist earthquake damage.

Community Earthquake Safety Central Asia

Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Created school programs and disseminated disaster awareness materials to over 50% of schoolchildren in cities with high seismic risk:Tashkent, Dushanbe and Almaty.

Disaster Preparedness for Schools in Turkey

Turkey

This innovative online disaster awareness curriculum, including self-study and teacher training, scaled nationwide and reached remote corners of Turkey.

Schools Seismic Retrofit Designs for Quito

Ecuador

Created seismic retrofit designs for typical building types using local materials and construction techniques, and strengthened representative schools.

Protecting School Children from Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanoes

APEC Economies

A comprehensive program that outlines how to keep students out of harm’s way who live in high-risk earthquake, tsunami, and volcano hazard zones in APEC countries.

Seismic Resilience Evaluations

Bhutan

Engineers gained skills to assess structural vulnerability of Bhutan’s schools and health facilities, so that the government could evaluate post-earthquake safety of buildings.

Advancing Earthquake Engineering Practice and Instruction

Pakistan

Developed university earthquake engineering curriculum and supported strengthening of graduate program; advanced structural analysis capacity and extensively mentored practicing engineers.

OECD School Earthquake Safety Policy

OECD Countries

Guidance for nations to develop an effective school earthquake safety program, approved by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).