Earthquake Disaster Management Approach: The Case of Al-Ais, Medina Area in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The research tackles earthquakes as one of the most dangerous natural disasters. It defines disasters in general, which in turn include earthquakes, how to manage them, stages of their evolution, and their classification among other kinds of disasters such as hurricanes, floods, drought, desertification, etc. Afterwards, it tackles the impacts of disasters on man, buildings and infrastructure. It defines also the codes and laws existing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to confront and treat the impacts of earthquakes in their different stages (before, during and after) and the authorities involved in managing them. Then, it moves to study the case of Al-Ais Earthquake, and identifies the points of deficiency in dealing with such a disaster. Moreover, the research tackles some global experiences in how to handle the situation, reaching to the presentation of a conceptual approach to confront disasters of earthquakes in their various stages.