One of the most common underlying threats to countries – and their citizens – is the very foundation upon which they are built. While many of us have learned about fault lines at some point in our lives, their various positions across the planet aren’t exactly common knowledge. (Ask yourself if any of the places you’ve traveled sit atop fault lines, and you’ll quickly realize just how little you know about them or their locations.)

But unlike the common citizen, government leaders and organizations are zeroed in on fault lines, as they play a massive role in where we build, how we build, and the measures we put into place to protect resources (like infrastructure and citizens). But why is it so important to take fault lines into such serious consideration? And more importantly, how can we use our knowledge of fault lines to transform the way we protect life on earth? Prometheus exists to answer questions like this one. 

What Are Fault Lines?

Scientists continue to study and appreciate the Earth’s crust, and all of the imperfections it contains. One such imperfection is faults, which are fractures (or clusters of fractures) that can facilitate shifting or movement across the Earth’s surface. If our planet was a puzzle, fault lines would be the edges of each powerful, massive piece. 

Over time and as the Earth’s plates shift, tension and friction can build up within faults – between plates. The release of this tension causes earthquakes, allowing the land to shake and adjust to the shifting happening below us. While we can’t prevent catastrophic events like earthquakes, we can certainly learn enough about them to help prepare the nations and communities that are most at risk of being impacted by their shifting. 

Where Do Fault Lines Lie? 

Some of the more commonly known fault lines lie along the western coasts of both North and South America, and interwoven throughout and surrounding Africa, Europe, and Asia. According to World Atlas, some of the most earthquake-prone cities include:

• Tokyo, Japan
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Manila, Philippines
• Los Angeles & San Francisco, USA
• Osaka, Japan

While this list barely begins to cover the number of cities and nations constantly at risk for seismic activity, it can help us get a better understanding of just how many millions of lives deserve consideration when creating disaster response plans. 

As of 2013, nearly 62% of the world’s population lived in a country with a significant risk of earthquake occurrence (NBC News). Nearly a decade later, these numbers have only continued to grow. And according to World Atlas, “On any given day, it is estimated that 283 million people are exposed to the possibility of a major shakeup. Living on a fault line puts humans at risk of suffering damage or death at the hands of an earthquake.” 

Since the earth’s population only continues to grow, we’re eager to prioritize fault line considerations throughout our comprehensive disaster response plans implemented across the globe. 

Fortifying At-Risk Countries

Information Sharing

One of the most impactful ways we can help create strong, resilient, fortified communities is by sharing information. And while it might sound like a bit of a stretch to imply that information can save lives in the event of an earthquake, there’s solid evidence to back us up. 

One of the best examples of this comes from The World Bank, who, in 2017, facilitated and supported a “knowledge exchange” among at-risk countries in order to help them increase seismic resilience in densely populated areas (World Bank). The result? “The delegation saw impressive progress made by Turkey and Istanbul, from revised institutional frameworks, strengthened preparedness and response capabilities, and retrofitted schools and hospitals to adapted municipal e-services that ensure that the construction of resilient new buildings are approved fast and with the right safety checks.”

Through information sharing, nations are able to distribute and compare insights regarding methodologies, strategies, scenario planning, infrastructure fortification, technology implementation, and more. 

Infrastructure Fortification

Our approach to disaster preparedness involves extensive evaluations to uncover weaknesses and strengths across all areas of preparation, including infrastructure. Much like what was discovered as a result of The World Bank’s initiative mentioned above, most countries have room for improvement when it comes to the fortification of their emergency buildings (like shelters, hospitals, and schools), roadways, and underground systems. 

By equipping communities with the knowledge needed to prioritize a fortified infrastructure, we can begin to prepare for disasters months, years, decades, and even centuries in advance by prioritizing quality across projects. 

Technology Implementation

By keeping our sights set on the future and staying ahead of trends in technology, we can equip nations with cutting edge technology and tools to help them protect their citizens. Technology like this spans dozens of categories, and can include equipment that helps detect seismic activity, programs that help entire countries conduct disaster preparedness drills, communication tools to keep everyone on the same page, and more. 

It goes without saying, however, that technology like this is often expensive, making it difficult for less established nations to access. Part of our goal is to ensure that by focusing on the shared interest of protecting ALL life on earth, we can bring life saving equipment and technology to all nations in need. By continuing to learn from each other’s preparedness plans and growing our global network of fortified nations, we can slowly but surely create a safer place for everyone.