Development of Mobile Application to Assess and Enhance Earthquake Preparedness Level of Individuals and Community in India

Abstract

Earthquake is one of the natural hazards that affected the mankind the most with large scale destruction and loss of lives. According to IS 1893:2002, 60% Indian landmass (Zone V = 12%, Zone IV = 18%, Zone III = 26% and Zone II 44%) is vulnerable to earthquakes and several studies have shown that highly populated states of North and North Eastern India, belong to seismically active regions in the world. There is a need to bring the spirit of togetherness and alertness well before a disaster so that a community can be prepared well to face the disaster and thus reduce the loss of life and properties. This involves building a community that is aware of the earthquake hazards and prepared for it. There is a dire need for effective earthquake preparedness and an assessment tool that can assist individuals and communities to prepare, respond and recover from earthquakes. With the latest technological developments, the effective way of communicating the information required for improving the preparedness levels of individuals towards earthquakes is through mobile based applications. Hence development of a mobile APP is need of the hour. This study focuses on developing java based application which serves as an assessment tool to measure the preparedness level of an individual and community. The information required to be prepared for an earthquake such as latest information about earthquakes, actions to be taken during an earthquake, seismic zones in India are also provided through this tool. This paper also presents a preliminary case study of applying the developed app among the community from south Indian city of Coimbatore to understand the status of earthquake preparedness and awareness among the community.

Summary of Online Pilot Survey Results

• Total no: of respondents = 132

• C—Count, N%—Count in percentage

Demographics

• 1. Are you male or female? (131 responses)

	C	N%
Male	72	45
Female	59	55
Other	0	0

• 2. Which category below includes your age? (132 responses)

	C	N%
17 or younger	2	1.5
18–20 years	19	14.4
21–29 years	105	79.5
30–39 years	1	0.8
40–49 years	1	0.8
50–59 years	4	3
60 years or older	0	0

• 3. Which of the following categories best describes your employment status? (132 responses)

	C	N%
Employed (full-time)	33	25
Employed (part-time)	0	0
Self-employed	5	3.8
Student	88	66.7
Not employed	4	3
House person	2	1.5
Retired	0	0
Disabled, not able to work	0	0

• 4. Are you an Indian resident? If yes, mention your native state in the other options tab (132 responses)

	C	N%
Yes	130	98.5
No	2	1.5

• 5. What is the highest level of your educational qualification? (132 responses)

	C	N%
Less than high school	0	0
High school	4	3
Some college but no degree	10	7.5
Associate degree	0	0
Bachelor degree	60	45.5
Graduate degree	58	44

• 6. How much total combined money did all members of your HOUSEHOLD earn in 2015? (Annual income of your Household) (131 responses)

	C	N%
Less than ₹72,000	6	4.6
₹72,000–₹143,999	16	12.2
₹144,000–₹239,999	25	19.1
₹240,000–₹719,999	44	33.6
₹720,000–₹2,879,999	37	28.2
₹2,880000–₹14,399,999	2	1.5
₹14,400,000 or More	1	0.8

• 7. How long have you lived in your current house? (in years) (132 responses)

Value	C	N %
0.5	3	2.3
1	11	8.3
2	5	3.8
3	10	7.6
4	4	3.0
5	5	3.8
6	2	1.5
7	3	2.3
8	5	3.8
9	2	1.5
10	15	11.4
11	3	2.3
12	4	3.0
13	3	2.3
14	1	0.8
15	10	7.6
16	2	1.5
17	3	2.3
18	5	3.8
20	8	6.1
21	1	0.8
22	3	2.3
23	11	8.3
24	4	3.0
25	1	0.8
27	3	2.3
28	3	2.3
50	1	0.8
57	1	0.8

• 8. Including yourself, how many people are there in your household? (128 responses)

Value	C	N%
0	1	0.8
1	3	2.3
2	2	1.6
3	18	14.1
4	68	53.1
5	26	20.3
6	4	3.1
7	5	3.9
20	1	0.8

• 9. Which of the following describes your family status? (127 responses)

	C	N%
Married or partnered with children at home	32	25.2
Married or partnered with NO children at home	4	3.1
Single with children at home	7	5.5
Single with NO children at home	84	66.1

• 10. Which of the following describes the ownership of the house/apartment you live in? (131 responses)

	C	N%
Owned or buying, to live in it	95	72.5
Owned or buying as a holiday home	3	2.3
Rent, to live in it	31	23.7
Rent, as a holiday home	2	1.5

• Earthquake Awareness and Preparedness Related Questions

• 11. Have you ever experienced an earthquake? (130 responses)

	C	N%
Yes, direct experience (e.g.: damage, injury, tremors)	21	16.2
Yes, indirect experience (e.g.: was inconvenient, couldn’t travel)	17	13.1
No	92	70.8

• 12. When do you think an earthquake could next affect your community? (130 responses)

	C	N%
Within a year	9	6.9
In 5 years	30	23.1
In 10 years	27	20.8
In 50 years	19	14.6
Over 50 years	12	9.2
Never	33	25.4

• 13. Please rate the extent to which you perceive the preparedness level of the following (132 responses)

	Very much prepared		Prepared		Somewhat prepared		May not be prepared		Not at all prepared
How prepared do you think you are for a major earthquake?	9	6.8	16	12.1	45	34.1	34	25.8	28	21.2
How well prepared do you think other members of your community are for a major earthquake	6	4.5	16	12.1	43	32.6	34	25.8	33	25.0
How well prepared do you think your local government is for a major earthquake?	7	5.3	28	21.2	46	34.8	28	21.2	23	17.4

• 14. Have you ever heard, seen or received information on earthquake preparedness from the following? (Tick all that apply) (131 responses)

Value	C	N%
Never heard about, seen or received information on preparing for hazards	21	16.0
Television	89	67.9
Radio	33	25.2
Newspapers/Magazines	81	61.8
Fliers/Posters	22	16.8
Training workshops/classes	35	26.7
Government	30	22.9
Films/videos	56	42.7
Internet	74	56.5
Friends or relatives	48	36.6
Workplace	22	16.8
Other	2	1.5

• 15. Rate the importance of each of the following mentioned below in earthquake preparedness (132 responses)

	Very important		Somewhat important		Has no role		May be important		Not at all important
	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%
Individuals	91	68.9	32	24.2	2	1.5	5	3.8	2	1.5
Community group	102	77.3	25	18.9	0	0.0	4	3.0	1	0.8
Governmental organizations	112	84.8	16	12.1	1	0.8	2	1.5	1	0.8
Agencies	70	53.0	47	35.6	6	4.5	9	6.8	0	0.0
Schools	104	78.8	23	17.4	2	1.5	3	2.3	0	0.0
Workplace	98	74.2	27	20.5	2	1.5	5	3.8	0	0.0
Emergency services (e.g. Police, fire)	120	90.9	9	6.8	2	1.5	1	0.8	0	0.0
Insurance companies	83	62.9	41	31.1	2	1.5	6	4.5	0	0.0

• 16. To what extent do each of the following prevent you from preparing for earthquakes? (132 responses)

	Very much		Somewhat		Has no role		May be		Not at all
	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%
The cost	24	18.2	58	43.9	29	22.0	16	12.1	5	3.8
The skill or knowledge required	54	40.9	58	43.9	12	9.1	5	3.8	3	2.3
The time needed to prepare	48	36.4	57	43.2	9	6.8	11	8.3	7	5.3

• 17. Please describe the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements (132 responses)

	Strongly agree		Agree		Neither agree nor disagree		Disagree		Strongly disagree
	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%
In community meetings, I am often a leader	12	9.1	36	27.3	42	31.8	33	25.0	9	6.8
In community meetings I prefer to be a leader rather than a follower.	16	12.1	41	31.1	40	30.3	29	22.0	6	4.5
People around here will express opinion for relevant issues	21	15.9	82	62.1	20	15.2	5	3.8	4	3.0
People in this community can express their needs to others easily	17	12.9	71	53.8	31	23.5	10	7.6	3	2.3
The talks of community depends on residents’ interests	27	20.5	71	53.8	30	22.7	3	2.3	1	0.8
Difficult situations determine what issues this community should focus on	42	31.8	66	50.0	21	15.9	2	1.5	1	0.8
Peoples perceptions of community problems control the measures adopted	29	22.0	72	54.5	25	18.9	5	3.8	1	0.8
I trust my Local government to respond to meet the needs of its residents	16	12.1	52	39.4	44	33.3	14	10.6	6	4.5
I trust the media (newspapers, TV, radio) to report fairly	23	17.4	55	41.7	42	31.8	11	8.3	1	0.8
I have confidence in the law to protect and maintain order in my community	19	14.4	60	45.5	41	31.1	8	6.1	4	3.0

• 18. With regard to your participation in this community, record your responses (132 responses)

	Yes		May do This		Will not do this
	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%
I have worked with others to improve community life	49	37.1	79	59.8	4	3.0
I participate in local activities or events (e.g., festivals, fairs)	66	50.0	60	45.5	6	4.5
I have contributed money, local causes, charities, or to others in my community	61	46.2	64	48.5	7	5.3
I have attended public meetings on community issues	42	31.8	78	59.1	12	9.1
I have been involved in volunteer activities beneficial to my community (e.g., fund-raising, clean-up days, local groups, Scouts)	59	44.7	64	48.5	9	6.8

• 19. Thinking about earthquake preparedness issues would you be willing to (132 responses)

	Yes		Possibly		No
	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%
Participate regularly, on an on-going basis (e.g. belong to a group; attend monthly meetings)?	39	29.5	83	62.9	10	7.6
Participate for specific reasons or events (e.g. attend a one-off community meeting; be involved in a preparedness fair)?	50	37.9	74	56.1	8	6.1
Pass on information about earthquake and preparing to other community members?	75	56.8	52	39.4	5	3.8
Encourage other people in your community to get prepared for earthquakes?	78	59.1	53	40.2	1	0.8
Take a training course to be qualified to help your community recover from earthquakes?	54	40.9	63	47.7	15	11.4

• 20. The following are things that can be done to minimize damage and disruption if an earthquake occurs. Record your responses (132 responses)

	Yes		May do this		Will not do this
	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%
I have considered the chance of an earthquake when I decided to live in my present house	48	36.4	70	53.0	14	10.6
I have fixed tall furniture to the wall	32	24.2	79	59.8	21	15.9
I have ensured that heavy utility hardware will not fall down in a major earthquake (e.g.: water heaters, chimney)	46	34.8	76	57.6	10	7.6
I have ensured that my roof will probably not collapse in a major earthquake	52	39.4	70	53.0	10	7.6
I have arranged the cupboards so that heavy objects are stored at ground level	53	40.2	67	50.8	12	9.1
I have securely fastened cupboards with latches	45	34.1	74	56.1	13	9.8
I have ensured that objects that contain water have not been stored on top of electrical equipment (e.g., a pot plant or fishbowl on top of the television)	56	42.4	69	52.3	7	5.3
I have ensured that heavy objects are stored on the floor	62	47.0	65	49.2	5	3.8
I know the locations of utility shut-off valves and switches (e.g., water shut-off valve, gas shut-off valve, electric power shut-off switch)	65	49.2	62	47.0	5	3.8
I know how to operate utility shut-off valves and switches	59	44.7	66	50.0	7	5.3
I have stored water for survival	45	34.1	80	60.6	7	5.3
I have put aside spare plastic bags and toilet paper for use as an emergency toilet	38	28.8	85	64.4	9	6.8
I have accumulated enough tools to make minor repairs to the house following a major earthquake	44	33.3	81	61.4	7	5.3
I have obtained a supply of tinned or dehydrated food that could be used in an emergency	35	26.5	77	58.3	20	15.2
I have purchased or put together a first aid kit	45	34.1	75	56.8	12	9.1
I have a supply of essential medicines for illness or allergies	49	37.1	73	55.3	10	7.6
I have obtained a working battery radio (or solar/dynamo equivalent)	31	23.5	86	65.2	15	11.4
I have secured movable objects in my home (e.g., TV, computer)	42	31.8	76	57.6	14	10.6
I have access to an alternative cooking source.	33	25.0	81	61.4	18	13.6
I have a household earthquake emergency plan	33	25.0	78	59.1	21	15.9
My plan covers where the family should meet if an earthquake occurs during the day	32	24.2	81	61.4	19	14.4
I have contacts of emergency services (e.g.: medical, police, support groups)	62	47.0	59	44.7	11	8.3
I have obtained a working fire extinguisher	32	24.2	81	61.4	19	14.4
I have an earthquake emergency plan at work place	41	31.1	75	56.8	16	12.1
I have taken some other preparedness steps at work (knowing emergency exits, where to be in case of an earthquake)	45	34.1	74	56.1	13	9.8
I have obtained spare batteries for the appliances I might need to use	36	27.3	79	59.8	17	12.9
I have specifically put together an emergency kit	32	24.2	85	64.4	15	11.4
I check the contents/operation of my emergency supplies at least every six months	36	27.3	79	59.8	17	12.9
I know the location of a medical emergency center near to my house	57	43.2	66	50.0	9	6.8

• 21. In the next month or so, do you intend to do the following?

	Yes		Possibly		No
	C	N%	C	N%	C	N%
Check your level of preparedness for earthquakes	47	35.6	69	52.3	16	12.1
Increase your level of preparedness for earthquakes	54	40.9	63	47.7	15	11.4
Become involved with a local group to discuss how to reduce earthquake damage or losses	40	30.3	68	51.5	24	18.2
Seek information on earthquake risk	61	46.2	58	43.9	13	9.8