Miami Earthquake Essay

Human life stolen and washed away. Massive confusion, disbelief, destruction and death - all resulting from an instantaneous catastrophic natural event. A tsunami initiated by the movement of fault slips between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. This calamity has been marked as one of the most expensive natural disasters to date.

On March 11th, 2011 an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 hit the east coast of Honshu, Japan. This earthquake was the largest one to ever strike the island and has been the fourth largest in the world in recorded history (Geophysical Research, 2012). The secondary damage that followed the earthquake was a massive tsunami, which also caused a nuclear crisis. This disaster resulted in nearly 20,000 deaths,

left 3,800 missing and injured over 5,900 people (Journal of Epidemiology, 2013). The earthquake and subsequent 30 foot high tsunami had approximately 30,000 casualties; caused more than 125,000 buildings to wash away, roads and highways to disappear and swept away vehicles; the material damage is projected to be more than $310 billon. It was named the most expensive “natural” disaster (Earth, The Science behind the Headline, 2011).
The earthquake was triggered by the largest fault slip on record, with “thrust faulting on or near the Subducation zone interface plate boundary between the Pacific and North American plates,” (Tsunami Sourcebook, pg. 8, 2011). Scientists and experts claim that the two tectonic plates in the Japan Trench moved by approximately 50 meters. The plates were wedged together and because the majority of movement was horizontal this caused an abundant amount of seawater to produce a massive wave (tsunami) swallowing up everything in its path (National Geographic, 2013).
This tsunami was formed from an earthquake measuring 9.0 magnitude on the Richter scale which measures the intensity of an earthquake from 1 to 10. The formation of a tsunami requires the combination of three key elements: an earthquake measuring at least 7.0 magnitude, the epicenter of the quake near the earths’ surface, and the earthquake forcing movement of the ocean to rise and fall (Tsunami Alarm System, 2012).
Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning harbor wave. A tsunami is a giant ocean wave below the surface with a long wavelength. It essentially can be described as large earthquakes, landslides or volcanoes occurring under the ocean. As the tsunami waves move towards land the water level drops, which in turn creates higher waves. Speed from tsunami waves varies depending on the depth of the water it is travelling through. These waves can travel at a speed of 475 mph in 15,000 feet of water while in 100 feet of depth the speed drops to approximately 40 mph (Tsunami Sourcebook, 2011). Tsunamis can range in size depending on location and other factors; they can range from inches to over a hundred feet (Tsunami Sourcebook, 2011). In ocean depths greater than 600 feet, tsunamis will rarely be over 3 feet and are infrequently detected by people. As a tsunami reaches shore it appears to look like a fast proceeding tide along with a chain of breaking waves. Many people mistakenly believe tsunamis and wind-generated waves are alike. Wind generated waves on each crest have a length of time between 5 and 15 seconds and lose energy offshore. A tsunamis length of time varies from 5 to 60 minutes and presents like a flooding wave. For example, a 15-foot tsunamis is a 15-foot rise in sea level (Tsunami Sourcebook, 2011).
Hazards are situations or events that cause damage. Understanding and calculating the risk and vulnerability to a populated area alongside response measures assists with preparation to diminish the severity of destruction associated with a tsunami. A tsunami is a secondary hazard to all other hazards. The potential loss of human and animal life coupled with habitat devastation requires efficient and calculated response plans and evacuation procedures. Researching past accounts, frequency, return periods and variables such as ground failures, induction depths and other environmental concerns provide essential information to prepare for future events.
Vulnerability affects the ability of people to avoid, resist and recover from harm. In hindsight Japan could have been less vulnerable if a variety of “checks and measures “ had been tested and implemented ranging from the quality and density of the buildings, landscaping and having a current up-to-date warning system. Enhanced design structure coupled with special engineering techniques by qualified engineers, sturdier materials and construction of buildings (eg: location, elevation, shape, configuration and orientation) could reduce loss of life and property damage. Strategic landscaping such as well-rooted trees and shrubs helps provide protection and limit the damage and strength of the tsunami waves. It also allows the water to flow around and through an area. Community education programs provide reassurance and practical responses in the event of an impending tsunami. Furthermore, the government must create a disaster prevention policy that correlates to the risks identified in risk assessments. There also needs to be enhanced warning procedures and subsequent evacuation plans in addition to responsive and comprehensive search and rescue procedures and policies.
Intervening conditions that may have intensified storm damage relates to the condition and location of coastal vegetation within swamps, forests and reefs. Preserving these variables can help reduce the speed of waves and possibly redirect water flow. Urban development along the coastline destroys natural resistance to threats and disasters. Unfortunately, tourism markets play a major role in the consequences of natural disasters in these areas. Placing resorts near the natural coastline directly impacts vegetative growth and integrity. Conversely, the economic realities of coastal communities entail risk to both human and natural well-being. Coastal geomorphology examines the structure and development of the coastline (Niscair Online Periodicals Repository, 2010). It examines the changes and affects from various elements such as water levels, currents, waves and winds. In the occurrence of a tsunami the geomorphology and coastal formation is an important factor because it responds differently in the coastal geomorphic units. For example, geomorphology can focus on the energy of waves and how they can wrap around islands and off shores by creating positive interference in different locations.
Coping and adjusting is what people do when an unexpected disaster occurs. To eliminate as much danger as possible, community procedures need to be created and implemented as well as preparations for future emergencies. Surviving a disaster depends on the practical and emotional requirements of the victims including location. In addition, conditions present prior to the disaster coupled with the complexity of resources and abilities of the rescue effort all determine the success or failure of a disaster response.
How are the people in Japan going to be able to recover from such a tragedy? Coping with loss of family, friends, pets, belongings and your community is a tremendous emotional and practical hurdle for people to overcome. In addition to these already seemingly overwhelming obstacles the citizens of Japan live in fear that they could develop radiation poisoning from the Fukushima nuclear reactors. The government opened up evacuation centers for the survivors who had lost their homes though they were insufficient for the number of people displaced. The emotional toll coupled with loss of privacy and basic necessities such as heat were only compounded as diseases flourished in such an environment. It goes without saying that a global response was imperative for practical and social/emotional recovery to commence.
A beneficial strategy that could have been used to help the citizens of Japan was to be prepared in advance with a comprehensive evacuation plan.

Advance planning and preparation can be the difference between life and death in the event of a catastrophe like a tsunami. Such a strategy takes money and time in itself. Governments are restricted by economics and resources available, including relationships with other world governments. These realities must be weighed against the needs of families, schools, workplaces and the wider communities. Not having an evacuation plan can put the community at immediate risk for injury and long term economic and health threats. Often “grass root” responses are the easiest and most accepted. Rather than a government manual the people may never see or understand communities may plan within their own local government appropriate and effective evacuation policies and procedures. Some things that could be beneficial for a successful evacuation plan are to go over practice drills so everyone in the community will know where to go for safety during a tsunami, ensure there is a warning system and signals put in place prior to a tsunami and making sure all members of the community are educated on

tsunamis.
The earthquake and the tsunami caused a nuclear explosion at Fukushima plant. From the primary and secondary disaster it forced the nuclear reactors to overheat because the reserve power systems were disabled and incapable of cooling the reactors producing hydrogen explosions and a radioactive release into the atmosphere (Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, 2012). This catastrophic disaster forced an evacuation for all communities up to 25 miles away from the Fukushima plant. The nuclear explosion did not cause immediate deaths but it did affect approximately 100,000 residents (Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, 2012).
The citizens of Japan will never forget the disastrous experience that transpired on March 11th, 2011. A tsunami is a natural disaster triggered by nature and man has no control over the severity or destruction it may produce. However, out of tragedy can come triumph as Japan and the world has learnt from this disaster. The events of 2011 ensures man now has the previous experience, knowledge and enhanced technology to be better prepared. Educating the community, establishing policies and procedures, reducing destruction of the natural geography, communal warning systems, evacuation procedures as well as search and rescue aids have now been established and implemented. Government and communities are more knowledgeable and better equipped for a disaster. Due to the devastation that this country suffered in the past, they will emerge better prepared to face any future calamity.