If you were an engineer OR medical officer, what can you do to minimise the impact of damage in an earthquake?

Question

SERIOUSLY...

Answer 1

answerer has an excellent point about the japanese structures in building I have a site for you to show you exactly what these structures are.

Answer 2

Earth quake is in nature
It is there to obey the law of physics
Crust moves because it adjust / balance the force that created it

to minimize damage:
1) In Japanese technology, they place a flexible material down below the building foundation

2) This is just my observation.
. . Observe the passenger jeepney made of light- thin- steel
. . covered with so much decor.
. . the jeep can carry so much load
. . it can absorb so much impact for thousand of times
. . yet the body is not destroyed

. . . the jeep has the shock absorber, thats the reason why

If the building also have the shock absorber, then it is safe
the only problem is that the building is too heavy
And so the Japanese resulted only to flexible materials

Answer 3

I'm an inventor, not an engineer, but I've heard that in a pagoda each floor is suspended from the central collumn and swings freely like a pedulum during an earthquake.

Answer 4

I will educate them of awareness.
The following are some of the important precaution to be observed to save our life during an earthquake. Even though we do not have fool proof system to fore warn earthquakes some of the changes in nature or in the behaviors of animals and birds may help to decide the situations.
Before an earthquake.
Have a battery powered radio, flash light, and first aid kids in your house ,
Make sure every one knows where they are kept ,
Lean first aid; teach how to stop electric main and gas supply ,
Don’t keep heavy objects in high shelves ,
Fasten heavy appliances to the floor, and anchor heavy furniture to the walls ,
Plan for your family for reuniting after an earthquake if anybody separated ,
Urge your school teachers to discuss earthquake safety in the class rooms, and ask them to conduct drills ,
Find out your office has an emergency plan, know your responsibility at your works during an emergency ,
During an earthquake.
Stay calm if you are indoors, stay indoor if out doors, stay outdoors. Many injuries occur as people enter or leave the buildings.
If you are indoors , stand against the a wall near the center of the building, or get under a sturdy table keep some cushion on your head, Stay away from windows and outside doors, if you are in a high rise building stand against a support column.
If you are in outdoor stay in the open , keep away from over head electric wires. and bridges,
Don’t use open flames, if you are in a moving vehicle stop away from over bridges and stay inside the vehicle still earthquake stops.
After an earthquake.
Check yourself and nearby people for injury, provide first aid,
Check electric and gas connection,
Turn on your radio for emergency instructions, reduce the use of phone lines it may be required for conveying some important messages.
Stay out of damaged buildings,
Wear chapels and gloves to protect against shattered glass and debris,
Stay away from beaches and water front areas where Tsunami could strike, even long after the shaking has stopped.

Answer 5

I'm in school for Civil Engineering and I would say to inform the public is the best way, and to have an emergency designated route so that people can quickly escape. Make building stronger and more flexible.