One example where Government helps minimize the horrific results of Mother Nature’s awesome power, saves lives, limits destruction and supports recovery.
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Last Sunday night Northern California (earthquake country) experienced a 6.0 earthquake. Although over 200 people were treated at The Queen of Valley Medical Center, only 17 were admitted and the majority of patients sustained injuries that were not life threatening. No one was killed.
When compared to the Early August 2014 6.1 earthquake in Southern China, where almost 600 were killed and more than 2,500 injured, the obvious question is why were there substantially less injuries and no deaths in Sunday’s California quake?
The U.S. Geological Survey explains that “The majority of deaths and injuries from earthquakes are caused by the damage or collapse of buildings and other structures. These losses can be reduced through documenting and understanding how structures respond to earthquakes. Gaining such knowledge requires a long-term commitment because large devastating earthquakes occur at irregular and often long intervals. Recording instruments must be in place and waiting, ready to capture the response to the next temblor whenever it occurs. The new information acquired by these instruments can then be used to better design earthquake-resistant structures. In this way, earth scientists and engineers help reduce loss of life and property in future earthquakes…By monitoring how structures respond to earthquakes and applying the knowledge gained, scientists and engineers are improving the ability of structures to survive major earthquakes.”
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But all of that research needs funding and the resulting recommendations would be useless without regulations to support the research and implement and enforce the recommendations in specific binding regulations in the Uniform Building Code (set of standards used in many states). With awesome power, Mother Nature has proven her ability to cause great destruction, mayhem and deaths by moving its tectonic plates around and shaking our “solid world” like a kid throwing a tantrum, destroying his toys and room in the process.
Since implementation of the results of science, research and innovation have been proven to save lives and minimize damage in earthquakes and other natural disasters, is this not a great and appropriate use of Government, its resources and regulatory and enforcement powers? Can you think of other great uses for Government and its resources?
Video: Vox /YouTube Photo: yelingyang /Flicker
Given their response to Katrina, I don’t have a lot of confidence in FEMA. Not to mention the rest of our government.