Building a Resilient Future: Securing Sabah Against Earthquakes

Strengthening Community and Infrastructure for Seismic Safety in Sabah

Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon, and for Sabah, they are a reality we must confront. While we cannot predict exactly when or where the next major tremor will strike, we are certainly not helpless. We can, and must, proactively build a more resilient state, one that is prepared to withstand the ground shaking and minimize its impact.

This effort requires a unified approach, spanning from high-level government initiatives to individual family preparations. Every layer of society plays a vital role in creating a safer Sabah. Here’s a comprehensive look at the strategies we can implement:

Government Level Strategies: Laying the Foundation for Safety

The Sabah state government holds the key to establishing a robust framework for earthquake safety. This involves several critical areas:

1. Strengthening Building Codes and Enforcement: The single most impactful measure is ensuring our infrastructure can withstand seismic forces. The government must:

• Update and Mandate Seismic Codes: All new constructions – residential, commercial, and critical infrastructure (schools, hospitals, bridges) – must strictly adhere to modern seismic design standards appropriate for Sabah’s risk level.
• Rigorous Enforcement: Implementing a stringent inspection process during construction is crucial to ensure contractors are complying with these codes.
• Retrofitting Older Structures: Developing programs and incentives to encourage, or even mandate, the retrofitting of older, more vulnerable buildings is essential.

2. Investing in Monitoring and Warning Systems: Time is critical during an earthquake. Advanced detection and notification are key:

• Enhance Seismic Monitoring Networks: Expand and upgrade the network of seismometers across the state to provide precise real-time data on seismic activity.
• Develop a State-Wide Early Warning System (EWS): This system could detect an earthquake’s initial P-waves (which travel faster) and send alerts to critical systems and the public seconds or even minutes before the more damaging S-waves arrive. This allows for automated shutdowns of industrial processes, trains, and enables individuals to seek safety.
• Clear Warning Dissemination: Establish clear and reliable communication channels (SMS, mobile apps, sirens, public broadcasts) to ensure warnings reach everyone effectively.

3. Implementing Public Awareness and Education Campaigns: A well-informed public is a resilient public:

• Regular Public Service Announcements: Utilize various media channels to regularly educate citizens on earthquake preparedness, safe behaviors during a quake, and the importance of having an emergency plan.
• School Curriculum Integration: Include earthquake safety education in the school curriculum to ensure future generations are knowledgeable and prepared from a young age.
• Community Drills and Workshops: Organize regular earthquake drills in communities, workplaces, and schools to practice emergency procedures and reinforce safe actions.

4. Comprehensive Disaster Management Planning: The government needs a coordinated and well-practiced response plan:

• Regularly Update Disaster Response Plans: Continually review and update comprehensive multi-agency disaster response plans, detailing roles and responsibilities for all key departments and emergency services.
• Pre-Position Emergency Resources: Strategically locate and maintain essential supplies (water, food, medical equipment, shelter materials) and search and rescue equipment across the state for immediate deployment.
• Cross-Agency Collaboration and Training: Conduct regular inter-agency training exercises to ensure seamless coordination during a real disaster.

5. Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Frameworks: Preparing for the aftermath is just as important:

• Pre-Establish Recovery Strategies: Develop frameworks for rapid damage assessment, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and providing financial and social support to affected communities.
• Land-Use Planning and Zoning: Integrate seismic risk information into land-use planning to restrict development in high-risk zones, such as areas prone to landslides or liquefaction triggered by earthquakes.

Community Level Actions: Strength in Unity

Communities are the front line of disaster response. By organizing and working together, we enhance our collective resilience:

1. Create Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT):

• Train Local Volunteers: Establish and train local volunteer teams in basic first aid, fire suppression, light search and rescue, and disaster psychology.
• Community-Led Risk Assessments: Involve residents in identifying local vulnerabilities, such as older buildings, weak retaining walls, or potential landslide areas, and advocate for mitigation.

2. Establish Community Disaster Preparedness Plans:

• Develop Localised Plans: Create specific emergency plans for neighborhoods or housing estates, including designated meeting points, communication strategies, and assistance for vulnerable members (elderly, disabled).
• Organize Community Drills: Regularly practice these plans through community-wide drills to ensure everyone knows what to do and where to go.

3. Map Local Resources and Vulnerabilities:

• Identify Key Facilities: Map out safe open spaces, potential shelters, medical facilities, and water sources within the community.
• Recognize Critical Vulnerabilities: Identify critical infrastructure (power lines, bridges, dams) whose failure during an earthquake could isolate or endanger the community.

4. Strengthen Communication and Mutual Support Networks:

• Establish Community Communication Channels: Create reliable ways to share information during a disaster, such as local radio networks, social media groups (used responsibly), or a designated community safe point.
• Implement a Buddy System: Encourage neighbors to check on each other, particularly vulnerable individuals, following an earthquake.

Family Level Preparedness: Starting at Home

Ultimately, individual family readiness is the bedrock of community resilience. By taking simple, practical steps, you can significantly protect your loved ones:

1. Create a Comprehensive Family Emergency Plan:

• Develop and Practice the Plan: Establish clear rules for what to do during an earthquake: “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” Designate two meeting places (one near your home, one further away in case of evacuation). Make sure every family member, including children, knows the plan.
• Designate an Out-of-Area Contact: Choose a relative or friend outside the immediate area as a central contact point, as local communication networks may be overwhelmed.
• Plan for Specific Needs: Account for family members with special needs, infants, pets, and ensure you have necessary medications and supplies.

2. Assemble an Earthquake Emergency Kit (Go-Bag):

• Essential Supplies: Pack a waterproof container with at least three days’ worth of essential supplies, including:
  • Non-perishable food and water (minimum 1 gallon/person/day)
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (to receive emergency broadcasts)
  • First aid kit
  • Essential medications
  • Multi-tool or knife
  • Important documents (copies of identification, insurance policies, medical records) in a waterproof bag
  • Emergency contact information list
  • Extra clothing, blankets or sleeping bags
  • Cash (in small denominations)
  • Personal hygiene items

3. Secure Your Home and Mitigate Hazards:

• Conduct a Home Hazard Hunt: Identify potential hazards in your home and take steps to secure them:
  • Anchor Heavy Furniture: Fasten tall bookshelves, filing cabinets, and wardrobes to wall studs.
  • Secure Televisions and Appliances: Use straps or anchors to prevent them from falling.
  • Store Heavy/Breakable Items Lower: Keep heavy items on lower shelves.
  • Identify Safe Spots: Teach family members to identify safe places in each room (under sturdy tables, against interior walls away from windows).
  • Know How to Shut Off Utilities: Ensure responsible family members know how and where to shut off gas, water, and electricity.

4. Educate Your Family:

• Teach “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”: This is the most effective action to take during the shaking. Practice it regularly.
• Discuss the Plan Frequently: Make disaster preparedness a normal topic of conversation, not a source of fear.

Conclusion: Resilient Sabah Starts with You

Building a resilient Sabah requires a commitment from every level of society. While the government sets the policy and builds the infrastructure, it is the proactive actions of families and communities that truly define a state’s preparedness.

Don’t wait for the next tremor. Take action today. Talk to your family about an emergency plan. Assemble your go-bag. Start securing your home. Encourage your neighbors and community leaders to get involved. Together, we can transform our vulnerability into a source of strength, creating a safer and more secure future for generations to come.

Let’s build a resilient Sabah. One step at a time.

Source: Gemini