Earthquakes hazards management?

Question

Hi all. Can you guys name spme cases of an earthquake whereby the government has tried to mitigate/manage the hazards (like fires etc.)?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Not quite sure what you are after, but....

In California (in the U.S.), there are strict building codes which attempt to mitigate the damage caused by an earthquake by specifying how the structures can be built, materials used, automatic shut-off controls on pipelines and utilities when certain ground motion is detected to prevent uncontrolled gas leaks, etc.

In Japan, similar types of building codes are mandated.

By restricting the types of materials used in construction, the risk of fire is reduced.  By mandating automatic shut off of gas when certain ground motions are detected, the chance of a major fire are reduced.  There is obviously still the risk of minor fires whenever gas lines or power lines are broken.