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Earthquakes:
Earthquakes are geological events triggered by a sudden release of energy from the earth's crust. The release of the energy (usually caused by two tectonic plates rubbing against each other) causes seismic waves. These seismic waves can devastate towns, people, communities, and cities. Some earthquakes, such as the one in Shaanxi, China, have killed over eight hundred thousand people!
Earthquakes are geological events triggered by a sudden release of energy from the earth's crust. The release of the energy (usually caused by two tectonic plates rubbing against each other) causes seismic waves. These seismic waves can devastate towns, people, communities, and cities. Some earthquakes, such as the one in Shaanxi, China, have killed over eight hundred thousand people!
Victoria, BC:
Victoria, BC is a city on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Greater Victoria has a population of over three hundred thousand people, and is about 20 kilometers in size. It is positioned overlooking the Strait of Georgia, a body of water that separates Vancouver island from the
mainland. It is also the capitol of British Columbia.
Tectonic plates can either slide past one another, or they can collide, or they can diverge. Vancouver Island is one of the few areas in the world where all three of these types of plate movements take place, resulting in significant earthquake activity. Victoria is part of the Cascadia Subduction zone. It is this subduction zone that brings risk of a megathrust earthquake, magnitude 9.0 or greater.
Victoria is due for an earthquake over ten times more powerful than the one in Shaanxi within the next 60 years! And the fact of the matter is: we are NOT prepared for it. A city of the same rough population and size of Victora, Christchurch, New Zealand, was utterly devastated by an earthquake more than ten thousand times weaker than the one we're due for; and they had twice the amount of rescue teams as we have!
To learn more about earthquake safety in Victoria, visit the following sources.
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 1, Times Colonist, Sept. 2013 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/217831/filename/r001609415.pdf
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 2, Times Colonist, Oct. 2013 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/224911/filename/earthquake123_#2_r001609420.pdf
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 3, Times Colonist, Nov. 2013 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/236277/filename/earthquake123_#3_final.pdf
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 4, Times Colonist, Dec. 2013 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/245877/filename/earthquake123_#4_web.pdf
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 5, Times Colonist, Jan 2014 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/275511/filename/earthquake123#5_web.pdf
Victoria, BC is a city on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Greater Victoria has a population of over three hundred thousand people, and is about 20 kilometers in size. It is positioned overlooking the Strait of Georgia, a body of water that separates Vancouver island from the
mainland. It is also the capitol of British Columbia.
Tectonic plates can either slide past one another, or they can collide, or they can diverge. Vancouver Island is one of the few areas in the world where all three of these types of plate movements take place, resulting in significant earthquake activity. Victoria is part of the Cascadia Subduction zone. It is this subduction zone that brings risk of a megathrust earthquake, magnitude 9.0 or greater.
Victoria is due for an earthquake over ten times more powerful than the one in Shaanxi within the next 60 years! And the fact of the matter is: we are NOT prepared for it. A city of the same rough population and size of Victora, Christchurch, New Zealand, was utterly devastated by an earthquake more than ten thousand times weaker than the one we're due for; and they had twice the amount of rescue teams as we have!
To learn more about earthquake safety in Victoria, visit the following sources.
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 1, Times Colonist, Sept. 2013 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/217831/filename/r001609415.pdf
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 2, Times Colonist, Oct. 2013 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/224911/filename/earthquake123_#2_r001609420.pdf
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 3, Times Colonist, Nov. 2013 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/236277/filename/earthquake123_#3_final.pdf
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 4, Times Colonist, Dec. 2013 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/245877/filename/earthquake123_#4_web.pdf
Earthquake 1-2-3 pt 5, Times Colonist, Jan 2014 http://prod-admin1.glacier.atex.cniweb.net:8080/fileserver/file/275511/filename/earthquake123#5_web.pdf
Problems and Solutions We Discovered about Earthquakes in Victoria
Prepare:
Stay Safe:
ReBuild:
Biggest Problems we noticed for Victoria:
The amount of time it takes rescuers to find life to rescue, determine rescueablitly and then rescue
Not much manpower (no Heavy team!) for finding life, rescuing life, saving lives
Apathy (people are not prepared!)
Flooded emergency systems
Our top picks for Solutions that would help Victoria
iMedic:
intelligent holographic first aid that would be brought to people via drones
These would allow people to care for themselves while they wait the lengthy wait of rescue.
They can also help with tracking devices and mapping for rescuers.
Drones that scan for life:
These would go out and scan for life sending information to a main database for rescuers to use to minimize time needed to find and triage life, leving most man power for where they are needed most, getting people rescued.
Earthquake Table:
An engineered table that would withstand impact. In the lining of the table or legs would have supplies. A net would come down around sides to prevent debris from coming in, could have an emergency help tracking button and maybe even charging capabilities.
Earthquake alarm:
An alarm that could detect earthquakes and give warning along with speak instructions.
Fire Extinguisher grenades:
With all the possible fires and explosions an earthquake brings these would be handy to have in earthquake kits along with in glove box of car.
Prepare:
- Seismic upgrades needed for bridges and buildings
- Mesh in walls (especially over concrete) would prevent falling debris
- Bookshelf covers for falling books or items on shelves
- cupboard locks to prevent items out of cupboards
- earthquake kits that are easy and part of household (maybe even fun ones like Japan)
- Earthquake kit shoes (shoes with supplies in it)
Stay Safe:
- concrete injections to crumble to help rescuers get people out that are trapped in debris
- easy software or management for overwhelmed call centres after a disaster
- help devices that can let EMR know you are trapped
- people panicking not know what to do
- earthquake alarm that not only gives a bit of warning but can also repeat steps to take in an earthquake
- power outages/recharge stations
- wifi down/drone activated wifi
- flooding/4D pipes that repair themselves
- cars igniting/fire extinguisher grenades
ReBuild:
- pipe repair/4D pipes that would repair themselves
Biggest Problems we noticed for Victoria:
The amount of time it takes rescuers to find life to rescue, determine rescueablitly and then rescue
Not much manpower (no Heavy team!) for finding life, rescuing life, saving lives
Apathy (people are not prepared!)
Flooded emergency systems
Our top picks for Solutions that would help Victoria
iMedic:
intelligent holographic first aid that would be brought to people via drones
These would allow people to care for themselves while they wait the lengthy wait of rescue.
They can also help with tracking devices and mapping for rescuers.
Drones that scan for life:
These would go out and scan for life sending information to a main database for rescuers to use to minimize time needed to find and triage life, leving most man power for where they are needed most, getting people rescued.
Earthquake Table:
An engineered table that would withstand impact. In the lining of the table or legs would have supplies. A net would come down around sides to prevent debris from coming in, could have an emergency help tracking button and maybe even charging capabilities.
Earthquake alarm:
An alarm that could detect earthquakes and give warning along with speak instructions.
Fire Extinguisher grenades:
With all the possible fires and explosions an earthquake brings these would be handy to have in earthquake kits along with in glove box of car.
Some Mentors we had:
CFB Esquimalt USAR, acronym for 'Urban Search and Rescue' is a group of trained naval and civilian personal, dedicated to saving lives and decreasing injury and property damage in the event of disaster. Although there are USAR teams all around North America, this particular team was founded in 1999 due to increased earthquake risk in the area. Glen Cooper is the Team Commander of CFB Esquimalt USAR Team. Glenn has been part of the CFB Esquimalt USAR team for almost 15 years. He is very knowledgeable in the subject of disaster and he graciously shared his knowledge with our team. Glenn is also a Base Construction Engineer at CFB Esquimalt. |
Alison Bird is a Uvic graduate Seismologist native to British Columbia. She is one of the provinces leading seismologists. She has worked with Shakeout BC, been the Technical Adviser at Quake Aware, worked at the International Seismology Centre and worked as a Research Technologist at Space and Atmospheric Research Group. She has experienced an earthquake firsthand and has since become a symbol of earthquake awareness.
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The problem we identified was that in a disaster Victoria is VERY limited on rescuers (we do not have even one Heavy USAR team). Our solution involves a UAV that scans for life through debris and triage life and buildings to free up rescuers time so they can get right to rescueing people. The solution as a side also provides a stable data network and power source. We call it the Aether System.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Luke Rodrigues ~ Lifestyle Markets ~ Peter Hoemberg ~ Therma Boat Ltd.
Luke Rodrigues ~ Lifestyle Markets ~ Peter Hoemberg ~ Therma Boat Ltd.