Seismic Risk and Society Development Indicators: Examination of Three Countries

Abstract

This paper investigates the underlying relationship between the implicit level of risk accepted for natural hazards, and the level of economic, social, and political development of the country. Vulnerability information is related to the seismic provisions of the building codes and the atmosphere of code enforcement. Haiti, Chile, and New Zealand all experienced major earthquakes in 2010. The loss of life and devastation in Haiti, however, was much worse than in Chile and New Zealand, despite a somewhat smaller magnitude of the earthquake. Specifically, this paper compares the differences among the three events, and notes some of the social aspects that led to the conditions in each country at the time of the earthquakes. Variables evaluated are aspects of the social solidity, political stability, and economic growth. Implicit considerations include magnitude of the earthquake, local geological conditions, demographics of the population, and population at seismic risk. Damage is continuing to be investigated by several countries concerning the loss of life, injury, property damage, and how well various structures have performed in these three countries.