Abstract

The case discusses the earthquake of February 27, 2010, in Chile and its devastating impact. The event known as the F27, displaced 1.5 million people from their homes, damaged around 370,000 houses, and killed 525 people. The low casualty figure was attributable to the proactive steps taken by the Chile government, which included designing seismic codes that prevented buildings from collapsing during temblors. The setting up of the National Emergency Office of the Ministry of Interior (ONEMI) in 1974 in the aftermath of the 1960 Valdivia earthquake that killed nearly 5,000 people, also helped Chile in better disaster preparedness as the ONEMI carried out frequent evacuation drills and earthquake simulations. Disaster management experts appreciated Chile for its disaster preparedness and recovery. But, some experts pointed out that Chile’s disaster planning did not focus on the community rehabilitation that would have to take place after a disaster.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the effectiveness of post-disaster recovery process.
• Design a comprehensive framework for disaster risk reduction..
• Apply strategies for strengthening participation from communities in the post-disaster recovery process in areas prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Keywords

Chile; Earthquake; Tsunami; Ring of Fire; Seismic codes; Emergency preparedness protocols; Rescue; Relief; Restoration; Rehabilitation; Shelters; Seismic codes; National Emergency Office of the Ministry of Interior (ONEMI)