On Earthquake Preparedness in Israel

Dr. Avi Shapira

Chairman of the Steering Committee

Ministry of National InfrastructuresNational Earthquake Preparedness Committee

2 m

N

Marco et al. 1997

Ministry of National InfrastructuresNational Earthquake Preparedness Committee

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE•In the sparsely populated Levant region, the disasters following earthquakes killed thousands of people.•All the towns and cities in the region suffered heavy destruction at least once.•The towns on the coast have experienced Tsunamis.

Ministry of National InfrastructuresNational Earthquake Preparedness CommitteeJan. 1837 – The Roam fault. Magnitude 6.5-7.0. About 7000 victims. Total destruction in the Galilee especially Zaffed, Tiberias, Acre, Nablus, Nazareth and Zur.

Oct. 1759 – The Bak’a Valley, M>6.5. More than 3000 victims in the towns and villages of Lebanon, the Galilee and the Damascus region. Tsunami in Acre.

Jan. 1546 – Jordan Valley. M>6. Hundreds killed in Nablus, Jericho, Jerusalem, Hebron, Gaza, Ramla, Jaffa. Tsunami in Jaffa’s port.

May 1202 – Hula valley, M>=7, More than 30000 people killed and heavy damages in the populated areas of the Levant.

1837 1759

749

1927

1068

1202

363

Bet She’an 749Bet She’an 749

Ministry of National Infrastructures

National Earthquake Preparedness Committee

Instrumental Seismicity 1900-2007

Ministry of National InfrastructuresNational Earthquake Preparedness Committee

In 1999, following the earthquake catastrophe in Turkey, The Israeli government formed a Ministerial Cabinet and the interministerial earthquake preparedness committee;

•Advisory body to the ministerial cabinet.

•Steering committee and coordinator of government ministries to improve the level of earthquake preparedness of the state of Israel.

•Professional advisor to the emergency response organizations and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the Ministry of Defense.

Ministry of National InfrastructuresNational Earthquake Preparedness Committee

•Seismic hazard and risk assessments.

•Codes and regulations for new buildings and constructions.

•Strengthening existing building. (Financial incentives)

•Public Awareness.

•Training engineers.

•Development and implementation of new engineering technologies.

EARTHQUAKES DO NOT KILL ,

BUILDINGS DO !

תאוצת הקרקע המירבית

FOCUS ON PREVENSION AND

MITIGATION RATHER THAN ON

RESPONSE

Ministry of National InfrastructuresNational Earthquake Preparedness Committee

•During the first hours NOBODY will come for help. Organize the local communities.

•95% of the survivors are rescued by passing-by people. Train people for elementary rescue operations and medical help.

•Aftershocks prevent people from occupying their houses - Train engineers to evaluate the safety of buildings.

FAIL TO PREPARE ? - PREPARE FOR THE DISASTER !

Ministry of National InfrastructuresNational Earthquake Preparedness Committee

•Issue guidelines– We are privileged to have in-house shelters when we can not get out immediately.

•Recently, developing special Seismic Shelters in classrooms.

•Installing Real Time Alarm Systems.

•Impose the installation of automatic valves on Gas containers.

And more ….

Damage can be reduced- Casualties must be avoided !

P 6-8 km/sec S 3-4 km/sec

Warning time

Dangerous shaking

Propagation time of P

waves

זמן

Ministry of National InfrastructuresNational Earthquake Preparedness Committee

No Prediction but Possible real time warning

Thank youThank you! !

Jerusalem July 11, 1927Jerusalem July 11, 1927