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.