Perception and observation of residential safety during earthquake exposure: A case study

A case study of the perceived effects of earthquake exposed victims, as related to their residences, earthquake intensity, strong ground motion, and distance to the causative fault, is presented. Descriptions and a statistical analysis are given of the victims’ reactions inside houses during earthquakes, revealing that (1) many victims’ perceived moving to a “safe spot” during the earthquakes, as an “impossibility” and (2) the apparently fortunate timing of the earthquakes. The case considered is the South Iceland Earthquakes on 17th and 21st of June 2000. Altogether 180 sample-victims in 168 sample-houses (housing approximately 600 people), all low-rise, single-family houses located in a rural region with some 5000 inhabitants, are included in the study. The data on perceived effects were obtained through field surveys, using standardised questionnaires (quantitative data) and in-depth interviews (qualitative data). Geographical positioning, earthquake intensity, and strong motion recordings were obtained for all the stations in the Icelandic Strong Motion Network in South Iceland, along with geographical locations and earthquake intensities for every residential house in the sample. The objective of the study is to analyse inside-safety issues in order to increase understanding of residential indoor safety during earthquake exposure, and to suggest possible preventive remedies for adoption in future earthquakes.