OVERVIEW: EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS
Earthquakes, as well as the tsunamis, fires, and landslides that can occur in their wake, can devastate communities in a matter of seconds—destroying homes and infrastructure; disrupting water, food, and electricity supplies; and damaging local economies. According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), earthquakes worldwide have resulted in the death of nearly 500,000 people in the past decade.
Although earthquakes cannot be predicted or prevented, proper mitigation and preparedness efforts can minimize casualties and economic impact. USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) supports earthquake disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs that identify needs within existing systems and increase resilience through targeted capacity building activities. USAID/OFDA DRR programs include providing technical assistance to academic and governmental agencies to conduct seismic hazards assessments and providing education to at-risk populations and community leaders on effective earthquake preparedness and response mechanisms. USAID/OFDA also supports projects in earthquake-prone areas to improve construction practices, such as in response to the Haiti earthquake in 2010.