Fear is not the key

THE Nepal earthquake of April 25, its worst in four decades, has again given free fodder to even freer speculations from the layman to the experts about the fate of Dhaka should the Bangladesh capital be struck by a tremor close to eight on the Richter scale. Noticeably, most of the speculators seem not to be as bothered about a possible catastrophe in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Mymensingh, Sherpur and Kurigram districts, all of which lie in the 'maximum vulnerable zone', and the region was most severely affected by the 8.7 magnitude Great Indian Earthquake of 1897.

The possible cause for the bias against quake-hit Dhaka is because it makes the probable destruction and the loss of lives appear more sensational. Figures ranging from half of the buildings to three-quarters being reduced to rubble have been doing the rounds in print articles, and radio and television talk shows as well as in our living and dining room conversations. Curiously, no one seems to be able to predict the number of human lives that may be lost.

Many of the commentaries are about the dire negatives the city has to offer should a sizeable quake strike: buildings will crumble, gas lines will catch fire, electricity breakdown will plunge the city into darkness, water connection will fail, airports will be unusable, electronic communication will be cut off, rail and road network will not function, petrol will be scarce, food supply line will be snapped, hospitals will be overrun, burial and cremation will be difficult, rescue equipment will be in short supply…

Most of the 'specialists' (not all of them hold degrees in earthquake preparedness) give us little hope, perhaps because that is their pessimistic nature. A lady mentioned in a forum that 'the fear the predictors are disseminating publicly should be enough to kill us from heart failure long before an earthquake'.

Earthquakes can happen, and we are indeed lying close to a vicious fault line straining at the meeting of the Eurasian and the Indian plates. To lessen damage to property, loss of life and injury from an earthquake, we should prepare ourselves to the best of our ability. On a priority basis, we should seek professional advice about what we should build, how and where. Most importantly, we should rehearse what to do before, during and after the earth starts shaking. Fear will not help us, rather it will cause panic and that will be devastating, especially for our children.

Preparedness, mentally as well as logistically, is crucial. Our focus should be on adopting safety measures, and involving our family and workmates. Here are some of the tips I gleaned from the Net:

BEFORE: Consult a civil engineer for structural matters; fasten unstable furniture, equipment (gas tanks and water heaters) and hanging objects; move beds away from dangerous places; keep the exits free of obstacles; create a duplicate of the keys of your home and vehicle; keep a radio, a torch and spare batteries; install and learn to operate a fire extinguisher; stock suitable food; store abundant water; ready a first aid kit; secure important documents; keep domestic animals inside your home; if you have a disability, plan accordingly; familiarise your movement by using alternate routes.

DURING: If you are inside a building stay there; drop, cover and hold on; avoid exterior walls and windows; if you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow; keep away from dangerous objects; do not run around; after the shaking is over, walk out slowly watching for anything that could fall in the aftershocks; do not use the elevator or try to leave the building by the stairs; stop your automobile and stay in; avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signboard; if you are outside, stay there; move away from lampposts, trees, vehicles and buildings;  if you use a wheelchair, stay sitting and try to avoid falling objects.

AFTER: For any possibility of tsunami, move inland 3km (2 miles) or to a highland at least 30 metres (100 feet) above sea level; keep calm; implement personal, family and community emergency plans; if possible, inspect if there are wounded or stuck people; wear suitable clothes; verify if there are fires; do not make unnecessary calls; close the main gas valve; get away from the building; if possible, disconnect the electrical power line; do not touch cables or electrical posts that have fallen to the ground; inspect your house for structural damages; do not go outside to gossip; be prepared for more earthquakes; if you are trapped call/whistle for help; cooperate with the Fire Service and other emergency services.

The impact of an earthquake cannot be predicted, but we can react better (most probably) by being ready and organised.

The writer is a practising architect at BashaBari Ltd., a Commonwealth Scholar and a Fellow, a Baden-Powell Fellow Scout Leader, and a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow-cum-Benefactor Rotarian.