Why Do We Keep Putting Off Earthquake Preparedness?

After every major earthquake, we go through the same cycle. For a few days, we discuss whether our building is sound, where the assembly point is, and what an emergency bag should contain. Then the agenda changes, the bustle of daily life returns, and preparations are shelved until the next earthquake.

The catastrophe of February 6, 2023 showed us the cost of this cycle in the harshest possible way. Even so, many families still have no earthquake plan, and many buildings still await inspection.

This was also emphasized at the European Seismological Commission meeting held in Istanbul in September: scientific knowledge and risk maps exist, but their translation into public policy and everyday life remains slow.

Many people postpone inspections because they fear their building will be found unsafe. Behind this fear are very concrete concerns: “Where will I go if the building is unsafe? How will I pay the rent? How will we reach agreement with the neighbors?” Telling people to “get a report first” achieves little without answers to these questions.

That is why local authorities and relevant institutions need both to simplify applications and clearly explain options such as rent assistance, temporary accommodation, and strengthening support for residents of unsafe buildings. People fear learning the truth less when they know what they can do afterward.

Do we know where our neighborhood assembly point is? More importantly, could we reach it at midnight during a power cut, with an elderly mother or a family member who uses a wheelchair? Does it have essentials such as water, lighting, and toilets? Putting up a sign is only the beginning. Without neighborhood drills, we cannot know whether the plan actually works.

A family plan can be made today

Phones often stop working during an earthquake. Where will family members meet then? Who will collect the children if they are at school? Where is the spare medication for a family member who takes it regularly? How will pets be evacuated? These questions can be discussed in a ten-minute family meeting. During an earthquake, there is neither time nor opportunity to search for answers.

Society cannot be protected unless research on fault lines, ground conditions, and the existing building stock informs planning decisions. Scientists’ warnings must not disappear amid everyday political and bureaucratic priorities. Sharing risk maps transparently also enables people to make informed decisions when buying or renting a home.

We cannot prevent an earthquake. But having our building inspected, making a plan with our family, and visiting our neighborhood assembly point are within our control. Doing even one of these three things this weekend could make a difference in the next earthquake.