Earthquake Emergency Preparedness and Response - A Case Study of Thecho VDC Lalitpur

Abstract

Natural disaster cannot be stopped but its effect can be minimized or avoided by science, technology and necessary human adjustment i.e. emergency preparedness. Earthquake is one natural event which gives severe threat due to the irregular time intervals between events and lack of adequate forecasting due to its extreme speed of onset. Emergency preparedness is aimed at minimizing the loss of life and property during a natural event. Preparedness includes actions taken in anticipation of the event and special activities both during and immediately after the event. The current study is an attempt to explore emergency preparedness and response to earthquake in Thecho VDC of Kathmandu valley. The main objective of this study is to assess emergency response to earthquake hazard with respect to physical infrastructure condition and human perception. The study also tried to explore level of knowledge, awareness and preparedness of the local people. The research has adopted field observation, Key Informant Survey, household survey using random purposive sampling for the estimation of potential loss of buildings; lifelines, causalities. The RADIUS method has been applied for estimation of probable building damage and casualties in different earthquake scenario. Earthquake risk assessment was conducted based on earthquake shake scenario at two nearest fault lines to Thecho VDC and Gorkha Earthquake fault line. Post earthquake building damage was also assessed caused by 25th April 2015. The survey found that VDC is vulnerable due to the weak structure of buildings and construction materials and method. Spatial location of building damaged caused by 25th April 2015 is coincide with hypothetically earthquake scenarios. It seems that RADIUS method and tool is reliable and valid for the building damage estimation caused by the earthquake. People awareness and preparedness on earthquake was found very less. From the analysis it was concluded that the respondent have a low level of awareness and capacity. The low level of capacity was because of low level of preparedness and awareness. Therefore the study has recommended increasing the efforts in rising effective awareness addressing each sector of the local communities. Awareness and preparedness program should be launched in the VDC by concerned institution and the VDC itself and also need to adopt Earthquake emergency response plan at community level.