Disaster protection

Natural forces cannot be switched off. An earthquake, a flood or a heavy storm comes whether we want it or not. But whether such an event turns into a disaster depends strongly on how well people are prepared. That is exactly what disaster protection deals with: it wants to prevent damage before it happens and to help quickly in an emergency.

Early warning systems

The earlier a warning comes, the more time there is to act. Sensors measure around the clock whether river levels are rising, whether the ground is trembling or whether storms are brewing. When there is danger, the warnings go out through sirens, warning apps on the phone and the radio. Before a storm the weather service often warns days ahead. In an earthquake, by contrast, only seconds are left: measuring stations near the source pick up the first weak waves, and the warning is radioed onward faster than the strong waves travel. Even those few seconds are enough to crawl under a table or to brake a train.

How strong is a quake?

So that everyone knows how powerful an earthquake was, its strength is given as a magnitude, known from the Richter scale. One step more means ten times the deflection on the instrument and about 32 times as much released energy. A magnitude 6 quake is therefore not twice as strong as a magnitude 3 one: three steps more are about 30,000 times as much energy. Anyone who knows this can make far better sense of warnings and news reports.

Preparing at home

Well prepared is anyone who does not start thinking only in an emergency. A small store of water and long lasting food, a torch, a radio with batteries and a first aid kit help when power or tap water fails. As a rule of thumb, count on 2 litres of drinking water per person per day. Just as important is a plan: where does the family meet if the mobile network is overloaded? Which numbers should you know? Talking about this beforehand keeps you calmer in an emergency.

Acting correctly in an emergency

Every danger needs different behaviour. In an earthquake, if you are indoors: drop down, crawl under a sturdy table and protect your head, away from windows. In a flood the rule is: move up to a higher floor or to higher ground in good time and never walk or drive through flowing water, because even knee deep water can knock you over. For every warning: stay calm, follow the instructions of the rescue services and help others if you can.