Mexico is not prepared to face a catastrophic scenario like the one that occurred in 1985 and 2017 —after a couple of earthquakes that shook Mexico City and other states and left thousands dead and missing— at least in terms of prevention of risks, experts in civil protection agreed.
Julio Alejandro Velázquez Rodríguez, coordinator of the Canine Unit for Search and Rescue of People, which belongs to the General Directorate of Analysis, Protection and University Security, of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), said that Mexicans now know more and better forms of prevention and protection against natural disasters.
However, he said that although progress has been made in this area, there is a difference between the inhabitants of the Valley of Mexico and those in rural areas, who have less access to information.
Necessary, contingency plan
Velázquez Rodríguez added that there are at least three important areas in terms of prevention, such as drills, the constant review of the situation of the housing structure and a family plan.
Regarding the first point, he said that people should take more seriously the protocols that are carried out in the drills, as well as follow the rules of what to do and what not to do in the event of an accident.
On the subject of reviewing real estate, the expert commented that the inspection of homes and buildings should not only be carried out after an earthquake, but should be done with a certain frequency to detect any failure in time. He added that from the beginning of the construction, the best possible material must be used, as well as following the construction rules that are handled in different locations in the country.
“Sometimes the problem is that people build their own way and that means that when there are catastrophic events, the house suffers serious damage and affects its inhabitants,” said the specialist.
Finally, Velázquez Rodríguez commented that the family plan is extremely important so that the members of a family know how to act in the event of a natural disaster.
He explained that family members must share the knowledge they acquire in their workplaces, schools or other means to safeguard the lives of their loved ones.
Citizen Participation
For his part, Fernando Álvarez Bravo, a member of the Topos Tlatelolco Rescue Brigade, pointed out that citizens are part of the solution and disaster prevention. He argued that the participation of government authorities should not be “restricted” since in most cases the government cannot protect and rescue all people.
“People must be more aware and must understand that they have to take care of themselves and prevent themselves, at any moment it can tremble and you have to know how to act,” said Álvarez Bravo.
He added that not only the society of Mexico City must prepare, but the entire Mexican territory because it is not known where the next telluric movement may come from.
According to geologists from UNAM, after the earthquake that occurred on Monday, one of the recommendations to the population is to be aware that we live in a seismic zone.
“The population must already be prepared and the best thing they can do is obey the drills and be aware that they have to have better housing constructions, in addition to knowing the general indications in the event of an earthquake,” commented geologist Rodolfo Ruiz Quintanar.
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