A lecturer in emergency management at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst says that being prepared can help to minimise, but can never eliminate, the deadly destruction and consequences arising from the scale of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan on Friday.Mr Ian Manock, lecturer in emergency management at the CSU Australian Graduate School of Policing said no amount of preparedness can ready a nation for what is now being termed the greatest disaster to hit Japan since World War II.
“Japan is considered one of the best earthquake-prepared countries in the region,” Mr Manock said. “However, being prepared does not preclude an event’s impact, and, as we have seen, some events are beyond any that have been experienced to date.
“Link that to Japan’s huge population, which is predominantly located around its coastline, and no amount of preparedness will nullify the fact that a 7 to 10 metre tsunami with 5 to 10 minute warning lead-time following an 8.9 magnitude shallow earthquake offshore will result in catastrophic damage.
“The response needs of those communities can only be expected to be beyond their capacity, and thus the disaster response becomes very much a slow and protracted activity.
“We are seeing that the major damage and destruction in Japan was caused by the tsunami that resulted from the earthquake, not the earthquake itself. The fact that the initial earthquake of 7.2 on last Thursday-Friday produced very little damage or injuries is evidence of Japan’s earthquake preparedness, which includes public education programs and strict building codes.
“Japan, New Zealand, and Chile are considered perhaps the best earthquake-prepared countries in the world, along with California in the USA. Their respective building codes, community preparedness, and emergency services are very much focussed on earthquake vulnerability and mitigation.
“These recent earthquakes have caused immense damage within Japan and New Zealand, however the severity of the impacts will only be understood after a thorough analysis has been undertaken.
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