tetemeko a-town

Hope this will acknowledge my fellow Tanzanias kilichotokea Arusha na kwa kujua miaka ya baadae zaidi kwenye maeneo ya boundaries. or click on the link below http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

Dear Michu,
Habari za kazi na mihangaiko ya hapa na pale.

Sasa ni hivi, nimeona kuna mtu kakuandikia toka Arusha kuhusu Earthquake iliyotokea Jumamosi na Jumapili, sisi tumelete mail ambayo inatahadharisha na kutuambia ni nini cha kufanya katika hali kama hiyo.

Nawakilisha,

Lizzie

Dear All,

as many of you already know an earthquake took place in Arusha on Saturday and Sunday. Even if it was not very strong in town it was estimated to measure 5.2 on Richter scale. No known casualties and no damaged buildings in Arusha have been reported so far.

The ESARO and HQ have been worried about the situation and have requested us to give more information. The area nearby Arusha and Moshi is known to have frequent quakes. As a matter of fact the whole Rift Valley is a risk area. Larger scale earthquake can take place anytime. I would recommend you to take few minutes and read the belowinformation and instructions regarding earthquakes.

EARTHQUAKES:Earthquakes can cause severe damage due to ground vibration, surface faulting, tectonic uplifts, and ground ruptures. They can also trigger tsunamis, landslides, flooding, fires, dam failures, and other disasters up to several hundred kilometers from the epicenter. The actual movement of the ground during an earthquake seldom directly causes death or injury; most casualties result from falling objects and debris, or the collapse of buildings that were not built to "sway" during a quake (e.g., mud or brick, as opposed to wood or steel reinforced).

What to Expect: Earthquakes occur most frequently in zones around the Pacific Ocean and through the Mediterranean-Himalayan belt, but they can and do occur elsewhere in the world. Earthquakes fall into one of three categories: plate shifting or slipping, which is accompanied by horizontal ground movement; thrust quakes, where one tectonic plate will thrust up and over another, accompanied by a sharp upward movement; or a combination of the two. The most relevant experience might be walking on an amusement park Fun House floor where the ground under each foots shifts back and forth in opposite directions, and/or being catapulted.

There are usually two or more 'waves' or 'shocks' of increasing magnitude during an earthquake that are generally separated by 2-5 minutes. All types of earthquakes are succeeded by aftershocks, and some are preceded by foreshocks. Aftershocks and foreshocks are complete earthquakes in their own right, only of lesser magnitude. Foreshocks may precede an earthquake by a few minutes to a few days. Aftershocks may continue from several hours to several years after the initial (strongest) quake and are potentially very lethal. It is not uncommon for a building to survive the large initial tremor, only to be demolished several days later by an aftershock.

Common Misconceptions: Often, earthquakes are first mistaken for other less dangerous phenomena. The initial shock is generally accompanied by a loud rumbling noise vaguely similar to a train or large truck. It is not uncommon for people to rush outside, expecting to find that a vehicle has crashed into the building, only to be caught unprepared by the subsequent and potentially more dangerous shocks and falling debris. If you feel that the noise and the ground movement are not caused by an earthquake, take just a moment to stand in a doorway and listen, before going to investigate. If car alarms are sounding, and animals are howling, chances are its an earthquake. Go to a safe area (see below) and wait.

Those who experience an earthquake while driving will invariably mistake the tremor for a tire blowout and pull to the side of the road. If driving in an earthquake prone area and the car swerves suddenly, DON'T STOP. Take a second (no more than a second!) to observe other vehicles, including in the rear view mirror. If all are swerving, its probably an earthquake. Drive carefully, but quickly, to an open area off the road, away from overpasses, bridges, power lines, and other out of control vehicles, before stopping the car. Then stay in the vehicle.

For example, during the Loma Prieta quake in the San Francisco area in 1989, one man was driving along the Oakland freeway when the car jerked suddenly. He immediately noticed that all the drivers were struggling to control their vehicles, and he suspected an earthquake. When he glanced in his rearview mirror, he saw that several people had already stopped their vehicles to investigate their 'flat tires.' He also saw that the freeway was waving and collapsing behind them. He sped immediately to the nearest exit and stopped in a vacant parking lot, while the freeway came crashing down. He was among the very few survivors.

Preparations For An Earthquake: There is no such thing as "earthquake weather" or earthquake seasons. They can occur at any time and any place and as of yet there are no scientific means of predicting them. If the UNICEF office is in seismic area, it will be necessary to take the following actions in order to minimize the risks and be prepared: - make necessary repairs to home and office building; - know the location of emergency exits, fire alarms, and fire extinguishes; - check that there are no cracks in the foundation (a crack wider than 0.3 cm indicates a potential weakness); - insure that the building(s) is attached directly to the foundation, e.g., with bolts through the sill; this may require an inspection by an expert; - attach the water heater securely to the wall to prevent tipping; - if feasible, replace rigid water heater hoses with flexible piping; - eliminate or minimize heavy furniture, chandeliers, heavy or glass framed wall hangings, tall book-shelves, breakable items (glass, mirrors, etc.) and any - attached-to-the-wall construction; - do not store heavy and bulky equipment, boxes, books, etc. on top of each other; - store household chemicals and fuel so that they are safe from falling and spilling; - keep emergency supply kits in home, vehicle, and office that consist of:
first aid kit; flashlight; small battery-operated radio; extra batteries; change of clothes, including hard-soled shoes; blanket; two days supply of bottled water and non-perishable foods; - know the location of gas, electric, and water main shutoff and keep pipe or crescent wrenches handy (to turn off gas and water); - sleep with a flashlight and hard-soled shoes nearby (cuts from broken glass are a common injury); - inform the staff on the safe places in the office (see below.).

During an Earthquake: People in the office should be instructed NOT TO RUSH OUTSIDE, even after the initial shake. The time span between the first and second shocks or waves is generally too short (2-5 minutes) for an evacuation. The safest places during an earthquake are those away from heavy furniture or appliances, windows, fireplaces (crumbling chimneys), heaters, electric supply center, water and gas lines. The safest areas are those most protected from falling objects, such as, under a desk or table, in a doorway, or under main support beams. Keep in mind that the elevators and stairways are very dangerous. It is advisable to remain calm and remember these simple instructions: - get under a desk, a table or doorway, and hang onto it; - avoid panic and help others to remain calm; - stay clear of windows, mirrors, fireplaces, heaters, heavy furniture and appliances; DO NOT USE STAIRS OR ELEVATORS! - if outside, get into the open, away from buildings, power lines, bridges, trees, signs, lightposts, etc.; - if in a vehicle, drive to an open area (see above), stop the car and stay inside; - if in a mountainous area, be alert for falling rocks, mudslides, etc.

After an Earthquake: Quickly estimate the damage and further danger and make a decision on a full/partial evacuation, if needed; check evacuation routes for obstacles, such as water (electrical hazard), fire, fallen debris, or blocked passages; if safe, evacuate staff away from buildings, lightposts, electric power lines, etc; if possible, save the first aid kit and assist the injured, if any. Do not permit re-entry before checking these potential risks: fire or fire hazards; gas leaks: if a leak is suspected or identified by the odor of natural gas, shut off the main gas valve; damaged electrical wiring: if there is any damage, shut off power at the control box; downed or damaged utility lines: DO NOT TOUCH downed power lines or objects in contact with them; items in closets and cupboards which may tumble off shelves when the door is opened; immediately clean up any spilled medicines, and other potentially harmful materials such as bleach, lye, gasoline or other petroleum products; check your food and water supply.