No dangerous earthquake!
Strange as it may sound, there is no dangerous earthquake.
There is a dangerous building or dangerous infrastructure!
Imagine a situation where we would all live in light tents, or alternatively in earthquake-resistant buildings... (like in Tokyo for example) the extent of the damage and casualties would be significantly less.
Statistics of earthquake events in the world prove that the number of casualties in an earthquake of the same intensity is a direct function of the preparedness and advance preparation of the countries where it occurs.
The way to deal with an earthquake in Israel is simple.
Getting ready!
How to build a preparation in 6 points:
1. Mandatory to install local warning systems in all educational institutions from kindergartens to universities, in factories, closed public places and high-rise buildings.
The destruction from the earthquake in Syria, photo: AFP
2. Create a binding regulation that defines an obligation to build a preparedness plan for every high-rise building or every company with over 50 employees, starting with what the state has defined as an essential, existential enterprise or strategic infrastructure.
3. Create general information for the population, but one that also reaches every worker in the Israeli economy and from there every family.
At the same time, it is studied at a two-year level at least in every educational framework and is delivered to every student in the education system (in all streams).
4. Strengthen the local government as the real basis for crisis management among the population.
Redefining the priorities in the urban sector and building technological capabilities, real operatives based on KA, volunteers and tools to deal with at least the first 72 hours.
5. We are redefining what the construction "standard" is in Israel and adopting internationally accepted standards that will allow not only saving lives (as is the construction standard in Israel today), but also the continuity of the building's activity after the earthquake.
From the sights of the earthquake in Afghanistan in 2015, photo: AFP
6. Map the potential risk centers at the local level (each plant, infrastructure and local authority itself) and at the national level and build backup, redundancy and replacement plans for them if necessary and capable.
This year, the Home Front Command and the National Emergency Authority chose to declare an earthquake preparedness year.
Except for the statement, it's time for practical action.
The State of Israel in general and the Israeli economy in particular is not ready to deal with an earthquake of the magnitude we saw today in Turkey.
It's no secret that on average every 100 years an earthquake of such a high magnitude occurs in our region that causes extensive damage.
Products that fell from the shelves during the earthquake at the Walmart branch in Yucca Valley, Florida, Photo: AP
The last one happened somewhere in July 1927 and caused a lot of damage to various settlements in Israel and many casualties.
That is why an earthquake in Israel is not a question of whether, but a question of when and it is better to prepare for it ahead of time.
No, the preparation will not prevent the earthquake from happening.
But it will surely save many lives and allow the country to create functional continuity, which will lead to a reasonable living structure for the population during the recovery processes that will begin immediately after the earthquake.
It will also build survivability and rapid recovery for the country's vital infrastructures.
The bottom line is like Noah and the box.
The wisdom is not to predict that a flood will come.
But knowing how to fit the box will survive it.
The author: Alon Rosen - CEO of Elements Group, which deals with managing business continuity, functional continuity and cyber crises, and formerly CEO of the Homeland Defense Ministry.
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