Within the ranks of those responsible for disaster planning, the words, “All Hazards Preparedness” has become an often repeated catch-phrase, invoked almost by rote. Its full meaning must be understood when planning for an earthquake. The common procedure is to inspect buildings for resistance to trembling. Right! But, wrong! That is not the “All Hazard” concept.
Building damage or collapse are certainly the most common and stereotyped examples of destruction following an earthquake. In considering earthquakes, however, it must be remembered that the ground trembling can be only the trigger for further events. Following the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, for example, most fatalities were due to fire.