Name: John Zhang Date: Oct.

14th, 2021
Block: D IB Geography 12
Earthquakes Assignment
 Carefully read and highlight the Hazards and Disasters –
Risk Assessment and Response Packet _____
 Carefully read and highlight the Plate Tectonics Packet _____
 Read over your Tectonic Processes materials in your
IB Geography 11 Notebook + re-read p. 8-21 in the Resource Binder
pdf document _____

 From these materials, make sure that you are familiar with each of
the Vocabulary terms and Key Learning Outcomes below and can
define / describe them and where appropriate give actual examples
or provide annotated diagrams. _____

 Read over the handout “Rubric guidance on annotated maps and diagrams.”
You will utilize these directions for Case Studies. _____
 Read and highlight the “Cholera” and “Malaria” information handouts.
These two diseases are of particular concern on an ongoing basis in LEDCs
especially in sub-Saharan Africa. They can also become amplified in the wake of
natural disasters. Cholera especially was a big concern following the Haiti
earthquake of 2010. _____

Vocabulary and Key Learning Outcomes

- Mechanisms of plate movement including internal heating, convection currents,

plumes, subduction and rifting at plate margins Note: Know the diverse types of plate
boundaries (e.g., divergent, transform, convergent: subduction of oceanic plate under
continent, subduction of oceanic plate under another oceanic plate, two continental plates
colliding) and their associated plate margin names (e.g., constructive, destructive,
collision, and passive/conservative)
- asthenosphere, mantle, lithosphere, continental plate - granite, oceanic plate - basalt
- Characteristics of earthquakes (depth of focus, epicenter, and wave types) caused by
varying types of plate margin movement and human triggers (e.g., dam building, resource
extraction); and associated secondary hazards (tsunami, landslides, liquefaction,
transverse faults, fires)
- Sub-surface waves: P waves (primary), S waves (secondary), Surface waves: Love and
Rayleigh waves, tension, compression, magnitude, Richter scale, intensity, Mercalli
scale, primary hazards (i.e., shaking ground), megathrust earthquake
- Be familiar with the global pattern of earthquakes

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Case Studies (NIC, MEDC, LEDC)
Key Vocabulary
- risk, vulnerability, hazard, hazard event, disaster (see Hazards and Disasters –
Risk Assessment and Response Packet for these definitions) _____

 Download and read over carefully from the class website, under
“IB Geography 12 Extras”, the Case Studies sample key for Haiti (2010)
and Sichuan province, China (2008) _____
 Complete the Summary Chart and Map for the Tohoku Case Study _____
 As you go through each of these Case Studies, keep in mind
The following key Learning Outcomes: _____

For each case study, consider:

o geophysical hazard event details, including any secondary hazards

o varied impacts of these hazards on various aspects of human well-
being
o why levels of vulnerability varied both between and within
communities, including spatial variations in hazard perception,
personal knowledge, and preparedness

- The relevance of hazard magnitude and frequency/recurrence for risk

management
- Geophysical hazard risk as a product of economic factors (levels of
development and technology), social factors (education, gender),
demographic factors (population density and structure) and political factors
(governance)
- Geographic factors affecting geophysical hazard event impacts, including
rural/urban location, time of day and degree of isolation
- Geophysical hazard adaptation through increased government planning
(land use zoning) and personal resilience (increased preparedness, use of
insurance and adoption of modern technology)
- Pre-event management strategies for earthquakes and tsunami (to include
building design, tsunami defenses)
- Post-event management strategies (rescue, rehabilitation, reconstruction), to
include the enhanced use of communications technologies to map
hazards/disasters, locate survivors and promote continuing human
development

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Tohoku Summary Chart (see below) _____
- Respond in bulleted point form notes and make sure that your points are
sufficient and clear. To complete the chart, first, utilize the information from
materials in class, then the given recommended websites. If you end up using any
other sources, include the website addresses.
 Recommended sources –
o Relevant handouts and/or video resources utilized in class
o "Returning to Fukushima" (National Geographic 2018 - Youtube)
o CNN including “Related Topics” links on the left side of the page
o CBC
o BBC including “More On This Story” Links at the bottom of the page

Map Requirement _____

- Include a hand drawn map of the area and a hand drawn cross-section diagram
showing the specific plate boundary and/or specific type of fault involved. Look
carefully at the “Rubric Guidance for annotated maps and diagrams” handout for
necessary requirements including a frame around each. Label specific features (i.e.,
plate names). On your map, also include the epicenter and where possible, the
names of major cities + regions /states/provinces affected.

Tōhoku, Japan (MEDC) Earthquake – March 11, 2011

Country Economic Info. (use CIA Factbook):
GDP per capita: $41,429 (2019 est.)
GDP (composition by sector):
Agriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.)
Industry: 30.1% (2017 est.)
Services: 68.7% (2017 est.)
Labor Force by Occupation:
Agriculture: 2.9%
Industry: 26.2%
Services: 70.9%
Local Time: 14:46 March 11, 2011
Magnitude: 9.0
Epicenter (relative location and absolute location):
80 miles (130 km) east of the city of Sendai
38.322°N 142.369°E
Focus Depth: 18.6 miles (about 30 km) below the floor of the western Pacific Ocean
Duration: 6 minutes
Dead: 15,899 deaths
Injured: 6,157 injured
Homeless and / or Buildings Destroyed (specify): 126,000 buildings damaged or
destroyed
Damage: $360 billion

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Source(s):
https://kids.kiddle.co/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami
https://www.britannica.com/event/Japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-of-2011
Cause of the Hazard Event:
- Pacific plate dives beneath the overriding Eurasian plate, two plates struck
offshore of Japan
- Subduction zone forms, friction generated day by day leads to a megathrust
earthquake
- Scientists discovered a thin, slippery clay layer lining the fault
- Clay layer allowed the two plates to slide an incredible distance, facilitating the
enormous earthquake and tsunami
Source(s):
https://www.livescience.com/39110-japan-2011-earthquake-tsunami-facts.html

Preconditions to the Disaster

What was the local perception of the hazard risk?
(Note: See “Hazards and Disasters – Risk Assessment and Response” Packet for information about Risk)
Governmental:
- Pre-designed evacuation areas on higher grounds
- Breakwater and seawall pre-built on the shore of the bay (Note: Not high
enough to prevent from the tsunami)
- New Earthquake Resistant Building Standard Amendment in 1981 has adapted
local buildings suffering from an upper 6 magnitude earthquake
- Another revision to improve earthquake resistance for wooden structures
declared in 2000 and makes the foundations of the houses deeper
- Early warning systems can warn the local citizens about earthquake or tsunami
Social:
- Public awareness of earthquake and tsunami
- However, locally the public awareness is lower due to,
- Tohuku is not frequently suffering from earthquakes and tsunamis
- Even though they are familiar with the warning system and the evacuation
routes, most people psychologically think this time there will not be a severe
aftermath of the earthquake
- Difficult for elders to walk to evacuations sites due to high ground and
aftershock
Source(s): https://www.npr.org/2011/03/11/134468071/japanese-preparedness-likely-saved-
thousands
https://japanpropertycentral.com/real-estate-faq/earthquake-building-codes-in-japan/

Short-Term Socio-Economic, Environmental, and Political Impacts

(days and early weeks after the initial event):

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Social Economic Impacts:
- Around 4.4 million households in North-East Japan were left without
electricity
- 9m high wave crashed ashore & flooded plant's generators & electrical wiring.
People lost energy immediately and this took some time to restore
- 332,395 buildings, 2,126 roads, 56 bridges & 26 railways were
destroyed/damaged by earthquake and following tsunami
- 300 hospitals were damaged & 11 were destroyed
- An estimated 23,000 cars & trucks were damaged
- Ports were closed for 3 weeks. 1 dam ruptured & another 6 had cracks
Environmental Impacts:
- Scientists estimate that over 800 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or more were
recorded following the main earthquake
- Tsunami up to 40 m high devastated entire towns and resulted in the loss of
thousands of lives. This caused a lot of damage and pollution up to 6 miles
inland.
- Coastal areas experienced land subsidence as the earthquake dropped the
beachfronts in some places by more than 50 cm.
- Tsunami warnings were issued right across Pacific Ocean & were felt in
Alaska & Chile (over 11,000 miles away, but measured 2m tsunami waves).
Political Impacts:
- The government’s program of agricultural revitalization, will switch to an
agricultural reconstruction policy
- Methods include restoring supply lines, processing factories and distribution
networks, rebuilding farmland and irrigation systems, and reconstructing vinyl
houses for horticulture

Source(s): https://www.mindomo.com/zh/mindmap/short-long-term-impacts-of-great-tohoku-
earthquake-b35afe127ad841cb9cc9785cdd31e5b2
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/03/18/the-political-and-policy-fall-out-from-the-japanese-
earthquake-and-tsunami/
https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/beyond-quake-japans-political-aftershocks

Mid and Long-Term Socio-Economic, Environmental, and Political Impacts

(several months and years after the initial event):
Social Economic Impacts:
- Japan's transport network suffered huge disruptions

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 - Sections of the Tohoku Expressway were damaged
- Radioactive water & leaks contaminated local areas, with radioactive soil &
hotspots being found as far south as Tokyo
- Food products were also contaminated, including some fish & beef
- Protests about the use of nuclear power in Japan were organized in Tokyo on
27 March 2011 & all Japanese nuclear reactors were taken offline until June
2012
- 3 members of the Japan ground self-defense force died whilst conducting relief
operation
- A further 922 people have died because of the harsh living conditions since the
earthquake
- World Bank estimates that the economic cost of this event was $235 billion
- Rice distribution has been disrupted because rice storage houses have been
affected by the tsunami
- Feed-mills were damaged in various parts of the Tohoku region, leading to a
halt in the manufacturing and shipment of feed for livestock
- Milk factories in areas affected by the disaster have not been able to operate
because of the damage done and water stoppage
Environmental Impacts:
- Quake moved parts of north-east Japan 2.4m closer to North America, making
parts of the Japanese island landmass wider than before
- A 250 mile stretch of coastline dropped by 0.6m, allowing the tsunami to travel
further inland
- Pacific plate has slipped westwards by between 20-40m
- The seabed near the epicenter shifted by 24m & the seabed off the coast of the
Miyagi province has moved by 3m
- The earthquake shifted the Earth's axis by between 10-25cm, shortening the
day by 1.8 microseconds
- Liquefaction occurred in many of the parts of Tokyo built on reclaimed land
- Japan has experienced over 900 aftershocks since the quake, some of which
were over magnitude 7
- In Antarctica, the seismic waves from the earthquake were reported to have
caused some massive slabs of ice to fall from the Sulzberger Ice Shelf
Political Impacts:
- Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has insisted on increasing Japan’s
consumption tax due to decrease in GDP
- Until February 2012, the Reconstruction Ministry was made the official
"command center" for rebuilding Japan’s northeastern region.
Source(s): https://www.mindomo.com/zh/mindmap/short-long-term-impacts-of-great-tohoku-
earthquake-b35afe127ad841cb9cc9785cdd31e5b2
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/03/18/the-political-and-policy-fall-out-from-
the-japanese-earthquake-and-tsunami/

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https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/beyond-quake-japans-political-aftershocks

Local Response to the Event (where possible differentiate between rescue, rehabilitation,
and reconstruction):
Short Term:
- The majority of the 270,000 people within the nuclear evacuation zone were
evacuated
- Roads leading to coastal towns were cleared; all 14 ports were restored to
receive relief goods
- Electric service was restored to 90% of Japan’s residents.
- Water service was restored to 90% of residents.
- Train service was restored to the area, except for the destroyed coastal line.
Mid to Long-Term:
- local governments have completed drafting reconstruction plans including
infrastructure design, transportation, land-use management, urban design,
relocation, economic and industrial outlooks
- Relief items distributed, including hygiene kits, food, blankets, clothing, and
household items
- Support for education included supplies, temporary classrooms, and hot meals
- Community kitchens were furnished for evacuation centers
- Support to restore the fishing industry
- Scholarships for children from worst-affected areas
- 2018 Update: The reconstruction authority reported that 100,000 evacuees
moved into permanent housing in the past two years, so only 75,000 evacuees
remained in temporary housing. About 92% of public housing units were
completed
Source(s): https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2011-japan-earthquake-and-
tsunami-facts
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2014.0373#d3e460

National Response to the Event (where possible differentiate between rescue, rehabilitation,
and reconstruction):
Short-Term:
- The central government established the Reconstruction Policy Council to
develop a national recovery and reconstruction outlook for tsunami-resilient
communities
- As of 17 March 2011, 336,521 people in Tohoku and other impacted cities had
been
displaced from their homes and were residing elsewhere, including in 2,367
shelters, with
necessities arranged by the government.

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Mid to Long-Term:
- A national budget of 25 000 billion yen has been allocated for 5-year
reconstruction efforts
- The central government decided a policy of coastal protection such as seawalls
and breakwaters
- A remarkable paradigm shift in coastal protection policies is on seawall design.
- Seawalls should be designed with the assumption of overtopping and
destruction, and communities should not rely on coastal infrastructures alone
for protection.
- In December 2011, the central government enacted the ‘Act on the
Development of Tsunami-resilient Communities.
- This law promotes a development of tsunami-resistant communities based on
the concept of multiple defenses which combines infrastructure development
and other forms of measures targeting the largest class tsunami
- Up to 25% of special funds allocated by the government disaster recovery and
relief were being used outside the disaster area. (2012)

Source(s): https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2014.0373#d3e460
https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2011-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-facts

International Response to the Event (where possible differentiate between rescue,

rehabilitation, and reconstruction):
Short-Term:
AFGHANISTAN: The southern Afghan city of Kandahar announced it was donating
$50,000.

AUSTRALIA: Sent a 72-strong urban search and rescue team, including sniffer dogs,
to Miyagi prefecture. A military transport is also providing airlift support, helping
move fresh water, Japanese troops, and equipment to the quake zone.

-- The government has also offered field hospitals and victim identification specialists.

BRITAIN: Sent fire brigade search and rescue specialists and equipment, including
heavy lifting, and cutting equipment consisting of 64 personnel and two dogs, and said
it would send nuclear physicists if requested.

CANADA: The Canadian Red Cross said it would provide 25,000 woven thermal
wool blankets from its emergency relief supply stockpile.

-- Canada's aid to Japan includes a 17-member Disaster Victim Identification team,

chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear technical expertise and equipment,

8
Canadian Forces military assets to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts, relief stocks,
and emergency medical and engineering capabilities. Supplies are to arrive in Tokyo
on Thursday.

CHINA: A 15-member rescue team has arrived in Japan, state news agency Xinhua
said, bringing four tons of equipment for search and rescue operations.

-- The government has donated 30 million yuan ($4.56 million) of relief supplies to
Japan, the first batch of which has already left Shanghai, including quilts and tents.

-- China's Red Cross Society has donated another 5 million yuan ($761,200) in aid to
its Japanese counterpart, Xinhua said. The group had donated 1 million yuan
following the quake.

ESTONIA: The Foreign Ministry said it has allocated 200,000 euros to help victims of
the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan.

FRANCE: France has sent a search and rescue team consisting of 134 personnel.

GERMANY: Germany has sent a search and rescue team made up of 41 personnel and
three dogs.

HUNGARY: Hungary's emergency authority said it had offered a 16-member crew as

part of the International Response Assistance Network (RANET) program to check
radiation and do medical advisory work in seven monitoring teams.

INDIA: Is ready to send search and rescue teams and relief material. The navy is on
standby to send its ships to Japan.

INDONESIA: Will send 15 search and rescue personnel with experience in the Haiti
quake as well as blankets, mattresses, water tanks and bottled water in emergency aid.

LITHUANIA: Lithuania's state fire and rescue service said it was ready, in
conjunction with the European Union, to offer up to 32 rescuers, including three with
search dogs and three paramedics.

MALAYSIA: Will send a team of more than 50 search and rescue personnel. The
team includes five tracker dogs and will carry aid material and medicine.

MONGOLIA: Has donated $1 million and 2,500 woolen blankets, and offered to send
up to 300 soldiers, the Mont same news agency said.

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NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand has sent a search and rescue help team consisting of
65 personnel.

PAKISTAN: The foreign ministry said Pakistan was awaiting Japan's response to its
offer of assistance. A government official said two planeloads of relief goods,
including a field hospital, were ready to fly to Japan, along with a team of doctors.

RUSSIA: Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, said it had offered to help in
responding to the problems at Japanese nuclear plants if necessary.

- 79 Russian rescuers have been in Sendai (Japan) since March 15. They have 3
vehicles, search, and rescue equipment.

SLOVAKIA: Prime Minister Iveta Radicova told parliament that Slovakia had
250,000 euros ready for Japan but will coordinate with other EU states. Radicova said
Japan had asked not to send rescue workers until they have a general idea how to
proceed. Slovaks have 25 rescue workers ready.

SOUTH KOREA: A 102-member South Korean rescue team left for Fukushima, site
of the stricken nuclear plant, on Monday. A further 100 rescue workers are on standby.

SRI LANKA: Announced $1 million aid and a military relief team with medical
assistance to be dispatched to Japan.

TAIWAN: A 28-member team of rescue specialists left for Tokyo on Monday,

including specialists who helped in rescue efforts after February's earthquake in
Christchurch, New Zealand. It has sent a first batch of supplies, including clothing,
blankets, and food, and will start shipping heaters.

THAILAND: The cabinet has allocated 200 million baht ($6.58 million) for clothes,
gloves, rubber boots, instant food, and other goods. It will also send 15,000 tons of
rice.

-- A first medical team was to look after the interests of up to 600 Thai nationals. A
further team of 17 is ready to go.

* UNITED STATES: The U.S. Military is providing considerable support to Japan's

response operations with military assets that include air, sea, and ground capability.
Two Seahawk helicopters have already delivered food to Shiroishi, one of the worst
affected areas. In total nine ships will make up the U.S. relief efforts. The U.S.
Government has allocated $35 million to the operation `Tomodachi' which translates
as `friendship' in Japanese.

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-- The U.S. embassy in Tokyo has provided an initial $100,000 in immediate disaster
relief assistance, and Washington is ready to provide any additional help requested.

-- Eight experts of The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are scheduled to
arrive in Japan on Wednesday.

-- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a Disaster
Assistance Response Team (DART) that includes disaster response and nuclear
experts, and urban search and rescue teams, comprising 144 people and 12 dogs.

-- The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan has arrived in Japan to
assist relief efforts and other U.S. warships were also off the coast.

-- The U.S. embassy in Tokyo has provided an initial $100,000 in immediate disaster
relief assistance, and Washington is ready to provide any additional help requested.

VIETNAM: Will provide $200,000 in quake/tsunami aid. The Vietnamese Red Cross
will give an initial $50,000, a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Mid to Long-Term:
- Resources offered to help find earthquake survivors and obtain information
about people in Japan:
- Disaster Message Board Web171 operated by the International Committee of
the Red Cross, USA
- Department of State, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Honshu
Quake wiki operated by the Crisis Commons volunteer community.
- Other non-governmental organizations donations:
- Technical assistance teams have been deployed from the Turkish Red
Crescent, Switzerland Humanitarian Aid Response Team, Save the Children
and Plan International. Initial observations from the MSF assessment teams
that deployed to Miyagi prefecture indicate the need for food, blankets, and
water in Sendai City. Telecom’s sans Frontiers (TSF) is providing emergency
telecommunications assistance from Tokyo.
- Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) has a team of 10 people divided into three
groups conducting mobile clinics and assessments in Miyagi prefecture.
- Other celebrity donations include, Jackie Chan, Lady Gaga, Shakira, etc.

Source(s): https://web.archive.org/web/20110317002553/http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/factbox-
aid-and-rescue-offers-for-japan-quake/
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/incidents/pdfs/r_goods.pdf

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 Vulnerability
From your research, how vulnerable were the people of this area to this hazard event
and its impacts? Explain. (Note: See “Hazards and Disasters – Risk Assessment and Response” Packet
for the definition of Vulnerability and Factors Affecting It)
Tohuku in this case will experience extensive vulnerability to this hazard based on,
- Japan is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters because of its climate and
topography, and it has experienced countless earthquakes, typhoons, and other
types of disasters.
- Despite of public awareness of hazards, people tend to think that “there isn’t
any large scale of earthquake happened before in history, so this time even
though there’s an earthquake, we don’t have to worry too much of it.
- Tohuku tends to have a substantial portion of population as elders, they
technically cannot move amazingly fast. This will cause a lack in the
population successfully evacuated.
- The warning system seems not working efficiently, according to the class
video, a woman in the car did not hear it.
Adjustments
What measures have been taken to reduce the risk of a future earthquake event?
Note: RISK = Hazard + Vulnerability
(Note: See “Hazards and Disasters – Risk Assessment and Response” Packet for further information)
- Research into the scientific and technical aspects of disaster prevention
- The reinforcement of the disaster prevention system, its facilities and
equipment, and other preventive measures
- Construction projects designed to enhance the country's ability to defend
against disasters
- Emergency measures and recovery operations
- The improvement of information and communication systems

Source(s): https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/disaster/21st/2.html

Video Clips (find a couple of video clip links related to your case study that you would
recommend for people to watch):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWzdgBNfhQU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBdvvXyS-r4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCcl5N7ZoF4

Nexus Summary Activity _____

To what extent is a country’s economic status (MEDC, NIC, LEDC) a major factor in
reducing the socio-economic and environmental impacts of an earthquake? Give
arguments in favor of it being a major factor as well as arguments against and come to
a final position. Cite evidence from the China (2008), Haiti (2010) and Japan (2011) Case
Studies.

Arguments in favor of economic status Arguments against economic status

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being a major factor: being a major factor:
Japan (MEDC): - NICs and MEDCs in some case
- Japan has economic potential to will have a larger population than
educate the children from LEDCs, therefore it is more
kindergarten that the risk of challenging for them to design an
earthquake, tsunami and how to evacuation plan, rescuing plan etc.
prevent from them. There are also Therefore, LEDCs may handle a
practices for public to follow to hazard better depend on their
raise the public awareness of the governmental strategy.
risk as well. - No matter how the economic
- They also have enough money to status of a country is, if citizens
build breakwater and seawalls, set highly obey government’s
up warning system and evacuation instructions (best strategies) to
areas. They can refurnish the face a hazard, economic status will
houses to minimize the level of not be a major factor. For
destruction of a hazard. example, China’s labor force fully
- They have experts and technology obeys governmental instructions
to collect and analyze seismic data and that is the reason they can
to prepare themselves to next build buildings at a shocking
hazard better or find a better speed.
pattern of the hazards. - Other factors, for instance, time of
- Its economic it sufficient to make the day, distance from the epic
immediate response to the hazards, center, orientation of the fault will
do not need to wait for others to be more major than a country’s
help them. economic status, these are
China (NIC): classified as uncontrollable and
- Quick speed to react to the hazards unmanageable factors.
and make reconstruction plans.
- They can settle down survivors
from hazards in a temporary place.
- It is easier to get help from other
countries as a fast-developing NIC
Country.
- Nationally the labor force is strong
therefore the process of
reconstruction is very speedy.
- Government can help the survivors
who lost their home or family, has
economic potential to help them to
a nation’s best.
Haiti (LEDC):
- Can only build loose buildings that
will easily collapse in an
earthquake.
- Unable to professionally train all
the citizens to face a hazard

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 - As a LEDC, highly rely on other
countries to provide help when
facing a hazard, nationally they
cannot organize and conduct a fast
emergency response plan on their
own, they are dependent of how
much fund that other countries can
give them
- Lack of education in younger
generation as their economic status
is lower than NICs and MEDCs.
- Bad transportation routes will
affect the efficiency of rescuing
and less human resource of being
delivered.

Final Position Statement:

A country’s economic status (MEDC, NIC, LEDC) will still play a key role in

reducing the socio-economic and environmental impacts of an earthquake.

Potentially they are better prepared and have better resources, a country with high

economic status can provide advantages when facing an earthquake. In a futuristic

perspective high economic status can ensure a faster reconstruction rate and

recovery speed due to earthquake, or more of other hazards in a country.

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