Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: A ... - PHE Home

water) must be identified and made accessible. Water supplies and household surfaces can also
become contaminated with petroleum products (e.g., fuel oil or kerosene), household chemicals,
and molds.
Contamination of floodwaters also poses a hazard to those participating in the clean up. Rubber
boots and gloves should be worn, and open wounds and sores protected. Hands should be
washed frequently, especially when handling food or food containers. Foods that may have been
contaminated should be discarded. Eating utensils should be thoroughly washed with soap and
hot water and disinfected with a solution of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon water. All inside surfaces,
especially those used for food preparation, should be similarly cleaned. Likewise, all child play
areas need to be cleaned and disinfected, along with all toys, clothing, etc. Materials that cannot
be readily disinfected should be discarded.
Earthquakes. Earthquakes are a potential hazard throughout the continental United States,
especially within the tectonically unstable areas of California, Idaho, Utah, and the Pacific
Northwest. Only part of the destruction caused by earthquakes and their aftershocks occurs
during the event. Subsequent events triggered by the quake, such as fires, tidal waves, and so on,
can cause significant destruction.
The force of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale, which estimates the energy
imparted by the quake or aftershock. Every increasing Richter unit represents an increase in
energy by an order of magnitude. Richter units can be used as an estimate of earthquake
probability/frequency, with an order of magnitude decrease in likelihood with every unit
increase. For example, on average approximately 2 earthquakes of magnitude 8 are expected
worldwide per year, 20 quakes of magnitude 7, and 200 quakes of magnitude 6.
Although earthquakes cannot be prevented, much of the injury and damage they produce can.
Improvements in emergency response and health infrastructure can speed up response time and
lessen death and disability. Perhaps most importantly, structures built under improved building
codes and with stronger construction materials can survive earthquakes with less damage. Also,
as with all natural disasters, damage can be mitigated considerably through simple preventive
measures, such as turning off utilities, securing appliances, and taping windows.
Hurricanes and tornados. Hurricanes and tornados are similar weather events that differ in
magnitude and location. Both involve rotating masses of air associated with severe weather.
Tornados usually measure only a few hundred meters across and travel over only a few
kilometers of land, while hurricanes can stretch over hundreds of kilometers. Both can have
winds of up to 200 mph, but hurricanes are associated with much more energy and have much
more potential for destruction. Tornados develop primarily over landmasses, especially those
within the Midwestern and Southwestern United States, while hurricanes are associated with the
coastal United States, primarily the East and Gulf coasts.
Although hurricanes are associated with high winds, much of the destruction they cause is from
the so-called “storm surge” and subsequent flooding. High winds and low pressure can cause
water to pile up in coastal areas up to 14 meters above normal sea level. This can result in all the
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