1. Earthquake Risks in
Santo Domingo
By: José Bonetti, Jacobo Cantisano, and David He
Period F- Science
http://www.colonialzone-dr.com/images/thumb9154759.jpg http://www.qsy.com/iar_eq01/img_0049.jpg
2. Preparedness for
Earthquakes
People that know what to
• Before an Earthquake: If you live in a constant earthquake zone, you
should buy supplies monthly.
do during an Earthquake • Before an earthquake strikes you must have a plan.
• In order to survive you most likely need to have a first aid kit, canned
Have an idea 90% food, can opener, battery-operated radio, flashlight, bottled water,
protective clothing, and written instructions on how to turn off electricity,
Do not have an idea 6% gas, and water in case of a disaster.
Do not know 3% • If you are indoors during an earthquake, you should stay inside and get
under a desk or table and hold on to it. Alternatively, you can sit next to an
Have no answer 1% interior wall. Avoid exterior walls, glass, and heavy furniture. If you are in
bed, cover your head with as many pillows as you can. If the earthquake
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occurs while you are outdoors, get in the open and avoid buildings, power
lines, or anything that may fall on you. If you are in a car, you should stop
in an open space or clearing. But remember to avoid bridges, electricity
poles, and tunnels, as they may collapse on you.
• After an Earthquake: You should first of all check to see if you and others
are injured. If you smell gas, you should open all windows and leave the
house. Avoid lighting matches while standing near the source of gas. Do
not use any electrical apparel. Remember, small earthquakes may occur
after the main one, known as aftershocks. Aftershocks may occur from
hours to even weeks after the main earthquake. Fix all loose and unsteady
material as soon as possible. Calm down and avoid pieces of materials
that are hanging loose because they might fall on you.
• In case you get trapped under the debris, remain calm and hope for the
best. Try not to move a lot or shout a lot, as dust may surround your
airspace. Make sure to move your fingers and toes slightly to allow blood
to flow. If possible, cover your mouth with your hands or any cloth-like
90 material. Tap on a wall or use a flashlight so that rescuers can notice you.
3. Building Codes in Santo Domingo
The building codes for Santo Domingo is very outmoded and old. It has never been revised or changed for the last thirty years.
There was a paper published by the president of Sodosismica, the dominican society of seismology and seismic engineering, in
which he writes about the risk of an earthquake in Santo Domingo. He reminds us of the earthquake in 1946, in which many
buildings were destroyed and many lives were lost due to the fact that a tsunami followed up after the major earthquake
occur. It even destroyed the community in Nagua. Floors and buildings under went liquefaction, which caused them to collapse.
This is why building safer codes, or in other words, earthquake protection, will solve all your troubles.
“The Code is indeed a very outdated document.
The need for a modern Code is evident. It is
expected that the work currently in progress
will fulfill this acute need within a short period
of time.” - Jorge Gutiérrez.
Recommendation
• This document is extremely important for the safety of all human beings
living in the Dominican Republic, therefore we need to make sure the
government revises the codes and updates them. Not only this, but he
also needs to enforce the building codes, so that every architecture or
engineering apply them to the buildings they are working on. This will
increase the amount of safeness when an earthquakes, or even a tsunami
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44747000/jpg/_44747464_bridge220_2ap.jpg strikes.
4. Infrastructures and Population
Risk at Santo Domingo
The population of Santo Domingo is estimated to be about
2,084,852.
The area of the city of Santo Domingo is 104.44 km²
Earthquake risk: 2,084,852 (population)/135 km (distance of
threatening fault= 15443. This means that when an
earthquake occurs, 15443 people per kilometer are in danger.
Santo Domingo has 11 fire stations. Approximately, there is
about 1 fire station for every 9 square kilometers.
http://notredameschool.epals.com/thirdgrade/files/
There are 323 schools in Santo Domingo. That is about 1 Notre_Dame_School/thirdgrade/images/Notre%20Dame
school per every 0.32 square kilometers. %20School.preview.jpg
In Santo Domingo, there are more or less 28 police station, so
every 4 square kilometers there is at least 1 police station.
http://www.clinicaabreu.com.do/e/images/foto.jpg
25 hospitals are located in Santo Domingo. Every 4.1 square
kilometers there is around 1 hospital.
5. What is being done in other cities to
prepare for earthquakes?
What is being done in cities that have receive major
earthquakes? San Francisco, California
Portland, Oregon San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is focusing on a project
that will substitute and fix water systems, such as pipes, tunnels,
tanks, etc..., with better ones capable of resisting earthquakes.
• Portland is establishing evacuation areas in buildings Likewise, San Francisco re-modeled their airport so that it could
and public places such as airports, high schools, and withstand earthquakes. This way, in case of an emergency,
stadiums to make sure that everyone is capable of medical services and emergency aid are able to arrive.
escaping into safe zones if an earthquake strikes.
• Moreover, Portland began building its infrastructure
( highways, bridges, airport, schools, police stations, In addition, an earthquake scientist made a booklet to educate
etc...) in a way that will cope with earthquakes. people what to do and what not to do in case of an earthquake.
• As well, Portland started to establish
communication radios (such as, radio stations, Furthermore, San Francisco already started to built
websites, etc...) to make sure everyone is informed. infrastructure capable of tolerating an earthquake attack. It
even started to build building codes for safety.
• Luckily, people who have lost their homes due to an
earthquake can go to temporary shelters that
Portland has provided them with.
http://www.uniquely-portland-oregon.com/
images/portland-radio-tower.jpg
http://www.earthquakeprotection.com/building_san_francisco_airport_terminal.html
6. Earthquake history at
Dominican Republic
What part of the country receives This are some of the
more earthquakes? major earthquakes
The truth is that the Northern and Southeastern part both
that have occur in the
receive the most earthquakes. The Northern part obtains most Dominican Republic
of the earthquakes because it is located in the North American
Plate, which is one of the plates that gets struck by earthquakes
regularly. The Southeast also receives most of the earthquakes Strong earthquake shakes the
that happen in Dominican Republic because it is located in the May 12, island, causing damage in
Puerto Rican Trench and they receive some earthquakes, too. 1910 Barahona, Baní, San Cristobal,
With this collected information we found statistics that show Azua, and Santo Domingo.
us how many earthquakes can strike annually. This gives us a
base of information to analyze what is happening and make an
act. 100 people died and 20,000 were left
homeless. Its magnitude was 8.1 and caused a
Statistics have shown that 13 minor earthquakes
August 4, tsunami that was felt in the whole island,
causing structural damages in Puerto Plata,
happen per month. Thats about 156 earthquakes 1946 San Francisco de Macoris, Salcedo, Moca, La
Vega, Santiago, San Pedro de Macoris, Monte
per year! Plata, and Santo Domingo.
The size of this earthquakes vary from 3.0 to 4.0 This earthquake caused severe
magnitude. damage to buildings in major cities
September such as Puerto Plata and Santiago.
The average size of all this earthquakes is 3.3 22, 2003 Likewise, it caused damages in
some school buildings in Northern
magnitude.
towns.
