Seismologists Can Help Attenuate some Post-Earthquake Vibrations among the Public

Abstract

Very often after a strongly felt earthquake, the media and the general public consider seismologists to be the source of all information, particularly in regions where earthquakes occur infrequently. Widely felt earthquakes can have a strong social impact (“the post-earthquake vibrations among the public”) whenever the population is unprepared. Since 1935, eastern Canadian seismologists have been involved in four cases of post-earthquake communications with social impact. Recently, seismologists of the Geological Survey of Canada developed a communications strategy to help people cope with post-earthquake stress, particularly that component of stress arising from an insufficient knowledge of earthquakes. A communications plan is prepared before the emergency response period; a high priority is given to those persons who felt the earthquake most strongly; basic information on earthquake phenomena and preparedness is provided; and finally, seismologists make themselves both known and available before and after the earthquake. With this strategy, seismologists can help to relieve unnecessary anxiety and to promote positive preparation.

Scientists and disaster management

“…This is probably because, even if science is not all‐powerful, the public nevertheless tends to have more confidence in an expert trying to explain its own data than in a politician who is perceived as being more biased. In fact, scientific communication can, as shown in the Saguenay earthquake in 1988, become the most effective way of lowering the level of anxiety[20]. The same result was found, this time in the case of a scientific institute, the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, in its response to the 1990 Browning earthquake prediction for the central US[21].…”

Preparedness actions towards seismic risk mitigation for the general public in Martinique, French Lesser Antilles: a mid-term appraisal

“…According to Lamontagne and La Rochelle (2000), seismologists should follow psychological courses to help and support the public's emotional reactions before or after an earthquake. Scientists should also participate in communication plans which include concrete facts about earthquakes, to anticipate the event and its associated anxiety (Lamontagne, 1992;McClure et al, 1999). Science can at least promote up-to-date scientific ideas instead of fakes and rumours disseminated by local beliefs or the internet.…”

Communications in the Aftermath of a Major Earthquake: Bringing Science to Citizens to Promote Recovery

“…In the sections below, we suggest communication ideas based on the available literature on the topic of disaster communications as well as personal postearthquake experiences (Lamontagne et al, 1992;Minnick, 2010). It is likely that many of these suggestions also apply to early postdisaster periods of other natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, and hurricanes.…”