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Chile, Haiti earthquakes serve as sobering reminder how mother nature is unpredictable

By Patrick Davis

   One of the most unnerving, terrifying and unforgiving forces of nature is a severe earthquake and its eventual aftershocks.

   An earthquake can be very difficult to forecast due to unpredictability. Once an earthquake strikes, violent tremors can last for seconds or minutes and cause decades of damage.

   The 2010 Haiti earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0. Scores of strong aftershocks followed the initial earthquake. Could Central Georgia be vulnerable to an earthquake of a similar magnitude that struck Haiti and Chile?

   Central Georgia has experienced an earthquake as recent as April 2009 near Milledgeville at Lake Sinclair. There was no major damage. The earthquake had a 3.1 magnitude.

  However, in the event of a more exponentially stronger earthquake, are we prepared? The community is still recovering from the 2008 Mother’s Day tornadoes that did tremendous damage to the region.

  The National Weather Service had confirmed that an EF-2 tornado hit Macon which was in the vicinity of Macon State College. Many residents lost power for a few days and the worst damage in Bibb County was along U.S. 80 also called Eisenhower Parkway and Eisenhower at Pio Nono Avenue received substantial damage. Streets across Macon had all types of debris in its path. Additionally, many businesses suffered moderate damage.

   Macon was able to recover, but the damage in Haiti and Chile will take several years to fix.

   Both earthquakes and tornadoes share some characteristics. However, weather forecasters are able to give advance warning by monitoring radars in regard to tornadoes. For earthquakes, it is very sudden and difficult to prepare for with any certainty. Geologists are able to provide predictions, but it may be years before anything happens.

   The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the coastal area of Chile on February 27, more than a month after the Haiti earthquake, is a sobering reminder that nature is certainly unpredictable.

   Chile is no stranger to earthquakes, especially since 1960. The U.S. Geological survey cited that 13 quakes of 7.0 or higher have occurred since the early 1970’s. Incidentally, the world’s largest recorded earthquake happened in Chile with an almost unimaginable 9.5 magnitude. However, Chile was better prepared for disaster to strike than Haiti.

   Chile’s past earthquake experiences with being a seismic country has made the country less prone to extensive damage and the loss of life was significantly less.

   Preparation is the best defense against earthquakes, but it takes a community effort.

   Many states and regional organizations have introduced measures to help reduce earthquake risk. FEMA supports state and local programs that protect citizens from the earthquake hazard through the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP).

   Some states and territories do not participate in the NEHRP because of a low level of seismic risk.

   Even though Georgia is not known for significant seismic activity, the state participates in the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) which helps to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, and economic losses resulting from earthquakes.

The Central Georgian, 2007,  Disclaimer..