EARTHQUAKES : The economic, environmental and social impacts of earthquakes.?

Answer 1

Economic: Dependiing on the severity of the earthquake and its epicenter, it can devestate a local economy. For instance, the Oakland Earthquake a few years ago. It wiped out interstate highway, killed many people, knocked power out for weeks, etc.

When this happens, there is opportunity for disease.

In Kobe Japan, a populated city, the economic damage was much worse due to the location, the prepardness of the city and the population. The economic impact was much worse there than in Oakland (without regard to strength of the earthquake itself).

Social: There can be death and destruction that will permanently alter the society. After Katrina has hit the gulf coast, there has been little activity because the local governments are still debating how to redesign the beach front. Families that cannot afford to comply with the new regulations will be forced from the homes.

In New Orleans, the jobs have not come back, therefore the people have not returned either. In an earthquake, you are not afforded the warning to be able to evacuate, therefore the long term effect may be worse.

Environmental: In the short term, there will be isolated releases of petroleum products from tanks that breach their walls and their containment (aboveground), and underground will be compromised too. (In Katrina, many USTs were left alone, but the dispensers were washed away. ASTs did fail).

Sewers lines will flow into the street. Untreated sewage can cause infection, disease and other blights that may harm humans.

Like 9/11, buildings will fall and be destroyed. They will release Asbestos fibers (if they contain ACM), PCBs if they have PCB containing equipment, and other chemicals (treatment of air conditioning equipment).