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Partial list of things that can happen with even 10 seconds of warning: * Elevators stop at closest floor and doors open, preventing people from being stuck be
by mikeyouse 9y ago
Partial list of things that can happen with even 10 seconds of warning:
* Elevators stop at closest floor and doors open, preventing people from being stuck between floors.
* Critical garage doors & gates at fire stations / hospitals will open, allowing emergency vehicles to quickly exit.
* Other critical doors & gates will close to prevent people from entering tunnels or other areas that could be blocked off.
* Trains will slow or stop to prevent derailments.
* Oil/Gas pipeline pressures will be reduced and valves will close to lessen impact if line is compromised.
* Hospitals alert to prevent mishaps in surgery or other dangerous areas (like MRIs).
* Airports alert to stop takeoffs/landings in case there are buckles in the runway.
In short, there are a ton of things that you can do to prevent really bad outcomes (many of which are prefaced on doing something before the power cuts out) that are much more difficult and expensive after the shaking has started.
- nostrademons 9y agoCould also post electronic signs on freeways that warn motorists to stop and pull over immediately, particularly before hazardous areas like bridges, tunnels, viaducts, and onramps. IIRC most of the civilian casualties of the 1989 Loma Prieta & 1994 Northridge earthquakes were from viaduct or bridge collapses that pinned cars underneath. With a minute's warning, you can prevent any more cars from entering the bridge and get most of the existing traffic out.
- hyperbovine 9y agoI can almost guarantee you that a warning like that, broadcast at certain times of the day on all major freeways in LA or the bay area, would kill more people than the events that you mentioned.