Paper ID #9216

The Assessment of Earthquake Preparatory Knowledge and Activities of Lebanese

Engineering Students
Dr. Hoda Baytiyeh, American University of Beirut (Beirut)

American
c Society for Engineering Education, 2014
 The Assessment of Earthquake Preparatory Knowledge and Activities of
Lebanese Engineering Students
Abstract: Lebanon is one of the most urbanized countries in the East Mediterranean region and
is highly vulnerable to earthquake disasters. Such a fact necessitates a proactive role of Lebanese
engineering institutions and an active engagement of the engineering community in planning and
preparing for future earthquakes. Senior students attending engineering colleges in Lebanon
(n=378) were surveyed to: assess their awareness and preparedness to earthquakes, to ascertain
whether there is a link among their awareness and preparedness, and to determine how
engineering educational programs have affected their current awareness and preparedness.
Although the findings indicate satisfactory seismic risk awareness across the majority of
participants, a poor level of earthquake preparedness was revealed. The role of engineering
institutions and organizations has insignificant influence on both awareness and preparedness of
participants. This article calls for the incorporation of earthquake preparatory knowledge and
practice into engineering programs across Lebanon and for the engagement of the Lebanese
engineering sector in earthquake disaster risk reduction efforts.

Keywords: Engineering students, Earthquake awareness, Lebanon, Earthquake preparedness

Introduction

Earthquakes have proven to be one of the most terrifying and costly disasters which can pose a
real and serious threat to a country’s infrastructure, population, economy, and social structure.
They have the power and the potential to knock down buildings, to wreck cities, and to destroy
communities in only seconds. The uncontrollable physical and social consequences of such
phenomenon will remain the main challenge for every vulnerable community. However, their
damaging effects on human lives tend to be the highest in developing countries, while shocking
economic losses have repeatedly been seen in developed countries 1. It has been shown by recent
earthquake devastations that the loss of lives and destructions can only be effectively reduced
through national awareness, preparedness, and planned response action programs.

Approximately 90 percent of earthquake fatalities occur in developing countries 2, where most

earthquake deaths are due to a lack of awareness and preparedness, poor engineering design and
construction practices and corruption in the construction sector 3. Thus, the Lebanese engineering
community must be properly and adequately educated and aware of the involved seismic risks to
be cautiously prepared to mitigate and to take the necessary safety measures to reduce the
damaging effects of disasters generated by such hazards. The realistic and practical nature of the
engineering profession provides engineers with unique abilities and perspectives in approaching,
analyzing, and evaluating risk and crisis situations. With the ability to perform and deliver under
pressure, engineers acquire unique skills that are highly needed during periods of disasters.
There is a general lack of implementation of mitigation while preventive measures are needed to
reduce the existing earthquake risks that should be addressed by the Lebanese engineering
community. This study is just an effort to highlight the importance of disaster preparedness and
to stimulate further research investigations targeting earthquake disaster risk reduction in
Lebanon.
Earthquake Hazard in Lebanon

Seismic activity in Lebanon and along the Dead Sea Fault has been observed and documented
for more than 2000 years, where strong earthquakes have ruined many cities and towns,
transforming thousands of buildings into rubble, while leaving hundreds of thousands of
casualties in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The seismic activities in Lebanon have triggered
many earthquakes during the past 2000 years. However, the most notable and prominent ones
were the earthquakes of 551 AD, 1202 AD, and 1759 AD. The magnitudes of these earthquakes
have been estimated to reach 7.5 while causing tremendous destruction in the coastal cities of
Beirut, Tripoli, Jubail, Saida, and Tyre and in the ancient and glorious city of Baalbek.
Geologists have shown that Lebanon is covered by seismic fault systems; the Dead Sea
Transform (DST) is extremely important because it has been responsible for the bulk of the
seismic activity in the Eastern Mediterranean. It originated from the interactions and collisions of
the African and the Arabian plates. It is the deepest and most deadly fault system in the Eastern
Mediterranean region, stretching from Ethiopia through Aqaba, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria to
continue north to join the East Anatolian fault in Turkey. This fault system has proven to be the
origin of several catastrophic and deadly earthquakes throughout the history of Lebanon 4.

The Mount Lebanon Thrust (MLT) is another active major fault recently discovered along the
coast between Beirut and Enfeh 5. A disastrous 7.5 moment magnitude earthquake occurred on
this fault on July 9, 551 AD, and destroyed most of the coastal cities of Lebanon. Scientists have
suggested that the frequency of similar earthquakes on the same fault is between 1500 and 1750
years. The earthquake of May 20,1202 AD, which caused severe destruction in Beirut and
Damascus, was estimated to have an equivalent moment magnitude of approximately 7.5 5, 6. The
year 1759 AD witnessed two significant seismic events on October 30 and November 25. The
equivalent moment magnitudes of these events were approximately 6.7 and 7.4, respectively 6.

The Importance and Purpose of the Study

Beside their role in development, graduating engineers can play a drastic role in the earthquake
disaster prevention, response, and recovery by advocating for the enforcement of strict policies
and regulations that prevent the tragic collapse of buildings and infrastructure and by rebuilding
devastated cities using advanced effective design procedures and methods that enhance the
resistance and the performance to future threatening earthquakes. Engineers can provide specific
solutions to reinforce and retrofit concrete buildings and to strengthen foundations as a means of
preventing mass casualties in earthquakes. The responsibility of engineers during the recovery
period is not limited to the domain of designing structural facilities, but it also includes
confronting the emerging challenges imposed by the disaster, engaging in community service,
and finding solutions for addressing interruptions to essential facilities that provide basic needs
for the affected community, such as water supply and network distribution, telecommunication,
electric power transmission, and transportation systems. Therefore, failing to enhance the
disaster functional capacity of graduating engineers, and failing to recognize the value and assets
of such a unique sector will lead to a catastrophe when such a disaster strikes.

Due to the lack of research emphasis on this subject, this case study will help evaluate the
Lebanese engineering students’ awareness and preparatory knowledge regarding future
earthquake risks in Lebanon. A sample of Lebanese engineering students who have been
attending engineering colleges for at least three years was surveyed to identify their preparedness
and the contributing role of engineering programs in addressing earthquake disasters. As shown
in figure 1, the objectives of this research are to:

1. Assess earthquake perceived risk awareness and preparedness of Lebanese engineering

students.
2. Investigate the possible link between awareness and preparedness of surveyed
engineering students.
3. Evaluate the contributing role of engineering educational programs to earthquake disaster
awareness and preparedness of targeted engineering students.

Awareness of seismic
risks in Lebanon
Role of engineering
institutions/organizations

Earthquake disaster
preparedness/ Behavior
toward seismic risks

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of the study objectives

Literature Review

Disaster preparedness is a continuous process that takes place prior to the occurrence of a
prospective disaster, it allows individuals, communities and organizations to respond more
effectively and recover quickly when a disaster strikes. Its objective is to enhance life safety, to
improve response activities and to improve functional and resilience capacities of individuals and
communities.

Researchers attempts to explain and analyze the motives of individuals in a vulnerable

community to prepare for earthquake risks has been performed with different approaches, which
correspond to the different aspects of risk perception of the individual: the nature of the threat,
past experience with disasters, gender, and the socio-economic status of the individual. As such,
researchers investigated the relationship between earthquake preparedness and personal, socio-
economic, cultural, and psychological aspects 7, 8. Other efforts have attempted to analyze factors
such as: age, sex, previous earthquake experience, income 9, socio-economic status 10, attitudes
toward disasters 11, home ownership, fear of natural disasters 12, especially, of earthquakes 13,
social attachments and relationships, and physical capacity 14. These factors significantly
influence the public preparedness but vary among regions, time periods, and population groups
15
.

It has been confirmed that people have various attitudes towards earthquakes preparedness, that
is, different subpopulations of gender, ethnicity, social class, disaster related knowledge and
experience, and other socio-economic and socio-cultural characteristics undertake various
preparatory activities 16. The whole process in which people take preparatory activities after
perceiving risk information is not rational but is rather different among individuals 17.
Recent earthquake damage or imminent earthquake information usually stimulates people’s
activities, but not simultaneously. Therefore, the existence of factors that stimulate public
concern is important 18, 19. Education is expected to motivate people, although it hardly changes
their personal attitudes. Regional, religious and cultural factors are necessary to be taken into
consideration when designing educational modules, materials, programs and approaches 14, 20.

Campaigning on earthquake disasters may enhance people’s awareness, but the impact does not
last for long 7. One of the common findings obtained from previous research is that people tend
to choose preparedness activities which are most easily performed in terms of effort and expense
10, 17, 21
. It is usually very difficult for people to undertake expensive activities even if these are
the most effective in reducing damage.

Instrumentation and Data Collection

A questionnaire based on previous research was adopted while adding questions to cover the
research objectives of this study 22. The questionnaire included four sections: demographics,
level of earthquake risk awareness, earthquake preparedness and role of engineering institutions
toward earthquake risks.

To ensure its validity, the questionnaire was administered to 50 students in a pilot study.
Feedback was obtained from these pilot subjects, and further changes were made so that the
wording of the sentences was comprehensible.

Data was collected from two top ranked universities: The American University of Beirut (AUB);
a leading private university in Lebanon and the public Lebanese University (LU). The authors
coordinated with the directors of branches and the chairmen of departments; professors were
contacted to administer the distribution and collection of the questionnaires. Students were
encouraged to participate due to the national importance of this study, and they were ensured of
complete anonymity. The respondents were chosen from several branches and main campuses in
such a manner as to cover wider participants’ views across the country. As of Fall 2013, the
population of senior and graduate engineering students in both institutions was around 1327.
Collection ended when a diverse population (geographical and discipline) was ensured. A sample
size of 378 was obtained, thus satisfying the sample size requirement for the given population 23.

Findings and Discussion

Table 1 offers demographical information regarding participants.

Category Percent
Gender Male 63%
Female 37%

Major Agricultural 8%
Biomedical 4%
Chemical 5%
Civil 36%
Computer 7%
Electrical 16%
 Environmental 4%
Mechanical 21%
Others 2%

Residence Location North Lebanon 23%

Mount Lebanon 21%
Bekaa 9%
Beirut District 36%
South Lebanon 11%

Institutions Public (LU) 58%

Private (AUB) 42%
Table 1: Participants’ Demographics

Earthquake Hazard Awareness among Participants

Based on participants’ responses, engineering students in Lebanon possess satisfactory level of

earthquake risk awareness. Table 2 illustrates such knowledge regarding the seismic risk
involved. According to the majority (83%) of participants, the school system in Lebanon has not
contributed to their knowledge and awareness regarding earthquakes. Such fact reflects a
deficiency of school programs in Lebanon in covering and highlighting the risk of earthquakes.
The lack of such necessary education has direct contribution to the existing seismic vulnerability
of the Lebanese communities to seismic hazards. Also, it was shown that television did not help
students in earthquake risk awareness. In fact, television channels in Lebanon focus largely on
political programs due to the current turmoil in the region while neglecting other concerning
issues. However, it is obvious that the occurrence of recent earthquake disasters around the world
and surfing the internet were behind the satisfactory level of awareness among participants.

Statements SD D N A SA
I am aware that a destructive earthquake will 5% 17% 16% 45% 17%
hit Lebanon within the coming 50 years
The Dead Sea Fault has triggered several 7% 16% 14% 51% 12%
destructive earthquakes in Lebanon
Seismic faults in Lebanon are affected by 8% 31% 9% 37% 15%
Turkey’s seismic activities
Earthquakes in Lebanon can reach a 7.5 8% 18% 7% 46% 21%
magnitude on the Richter scale
The majority of buildings in Lebanon will be 6% 16% 5% 55% 18%
damaged or collapsed because they were not
designed or retrofitted to resist earthquakes
The occurrence of recent earthquake disasters 5% 21% 15% 47% 12%
around the world triggered my awareness
about future possible earthquakes in Lebanon
I learned about earthquakes’ threats and risks 32% 51% 2% 13% 2%
through high schools’ teachers and programs
Television advertisements and programs 30% 54% 2% 11% 3%
 helped me be aware about the risk of
earthquakes
I surf the internet to learn about earthquakes 9% 19% 7% 54% 11%
Table 2: Responses to earthquake awareness statements

Earthquake Preparedness among Participants

Based on the statistics of table 3, engineering students are poorly prepared for future
earthquakes. The observed indifference regarding preparatory measures is probably due to a lack
of knowledge related to how to be prepared. Providing training sessions may improve the
preparedness level. Surprisingly, 78% of the participants admitted to a lack of personal
knowledge regarding disaster preparedness, while 84% exhibited an enthusiastic spirit toward
preparedness if training sessions or workshops were provided.

Preparedness items Yes No

I feel prepared for an upcoming earthquake 12% 88%
I fastened items inside my home to prevent falling objects during an earthquake 7% 93%
I surveyed my home for safe spot that can protect me during an earthquake 3% 97%
I have prepared a flashlight with extra batteries to use after an earthquake 15% 85%
I have prepared a portable radio with extra batteries to use after an earthquake 11% 89%
I have prepared a complete first-aid kit to use after an earthquake 23% 77%
I have stored water and food supply to use after an earthquake 19% 81%
I have prepared light tools such chisel, hammer, rope to use after an earthquake 8% 92%
I would like to be prepared for earthquakes, but I don’t know how 78% 22%
I would be prepared if I took earthquake training sessions or workshops 84% 16%
Table3: Responses to earthquake preparedness statements

Although earthquake awareness of participants is generally satisfactory ( see table 2) and reflects
the acquisition of engineering students of the basic knowledge and facts regarding seismic risks
in Lebanon, such existing awareness has demonstrated a poor influence on expected preparatory
measures to reduce such risks. This observation confirms previous research 22, 24-26 emphasizing
that good awareness level of disaster risks does not ensure a satisfactory preparedness level.

Roles of Engineering Institutions in Earthquake Disaster’ Awareness and Preparedness

In contrast to what was expected, table 4 shows that only 24% of participants admitted that
engineering programs have contributed to their knowledge and awareness regarding earthquake
threats and risks. Such ineffective contribution is reflected through lack of professors’ efforts in
addressing preparedness issues in classrooms where only a small number of participants (10%)
claimed that their professors have discussed the importance of preparatory earthquake activities.
Also, participants revealed the scarcity of organized seminars/workshops offered by colleges and
departments to stimulate preparedness among students where only (14%) stated that they have
attended such activities. It is interesting to notice that the majority of participants (77%)
supported the offering of a required disaster reduction course. They most likely believe that such
a course will advance their knowledge in disaster preparedness and response. The majority of
participants (58%) revealed that engineering syndicates are alerting communities about
earthquakes, something that is urgently needed for the highly vulnerable Lebanese society.
 Therefore, engineering colleges, institutions and organizations in Lebanon have an unavoidable
role to play in earthquake disaster awareness and preparatory activities. They are urged to devote
more resources to scientific and engineering research related to earthquake disasters and
seismicity in Lebanon. Inspiring and engaging local communities in earthquake disaster
reduction will be the first step toward a Lebanese society resilient against such hazards. Prepared
engineers could possibly be the frontline in future earthquake disaster response if disaster
preparedness strategies were implemented and incorporated in academic programs at local
private and public universities.

The findings reflect that the engineering educational programs have no guiding role in spreading
awareness and preparedness among college students. This can be explained by the fact that the
majority of engineering institutions and program officials are unaware of the growing risk and
threats of earthquakes in Lebanon. Unfortunately, educational leaders in Lebanon have no
familiarity or experience in dealing with disasters in general and with earthquake disasters in
particular because it has been a long time since a devastating earthquake has occurred in
Lebanon. They lack the essential knowledge regarding the immediate actions and procedures that
must be taken prior to and throughout the shaking duration of an earthquake. In other words, they
are unaware of their roles and their responsibilities in minimizing the destructive effects in the
midst of such a crisis.

Statements SD D N A SA
Engineering programs have increased my awareness 7% 44% 25% 15% 9%
about earthquakes hazards and risks
My engineering professors have discussed the necessity 23% 57% 9% 6% 4%
of earthquake preparedness in the classroom
The engineering departments in my college usually 29% 45% 12% 8% 6%
organize seminars in earthquake awareness and
preparedness
I support the requirement of a mandatory course in 3% 18% 2% 44% 33%
disaster risk reduction for all engineering students
Engineering syndicates in Lebanon are alerting the 4% 27% 11% 39% 19%
community about procedures and strategies to mitigate
future earthquake disasters
Table 4: Responses to the role of engineering institutions statements

Conclusion and Implications

The uncontrollable physical and social consequences of earthquakes remain the main challenge
for every vulnerable community. Such facts necessitate a proactive role of engineering
educational programs and an active engagement of the engineering community in planning and
preparing for future earthquakes. It is well documented that earthquake disaster preparedness has
traditionally been overlooked and ignored by individuals and communities. The quiescence of
seismic activities along the Lebanese faulting systems during the last two centuries has misled
both the Lebanese public and former governments’ officials about the existing seismic hazards
and has reduced their perception and awareness for earthquake preparedness. This study attempts
to assess the perception of Lebanese engineering students to earthquake preparedness. According
to the results, it is clear that engineering students are currently aware of the prospective seismic
risk, but unable to connect such awareness with the needed preparatory activities to reduce such
risks. Also, the passive role of engineering educational programs in promoting earthquake
disaster risk reduction was expressed by most participants. Therefore, failing to enhance the
disaster preparedness capacity of graduating engineers, and failing to recognize the value and
assets of such a unique sector in its capacity for assisting in future earthquake disasters will cost
Lebanon severe losses and long years of recovery when such a disaster strikes. Thus, engineering
institutions and organizations in Lebanon are urged to take the initiative to prepare future
engineers to take an active role in earthquake mitigation and response and they must actively
engage in earthquake preparedness programs to reduce future earthquake tragedies.

References

1. Daniell, James, and Armand Vervaeck. (2011). "Damaging Earthquake Database 2011- the
Year in Review." CATDAT-Integrated Historical Global Catastrophe Database.
2. OECD. (2008). "Costs of Inaction of Environmental Policy Challenges." Report
ENV/EPOC(2007)17/REV2.
3. Escaleras, M., N. Anbarci, and C. Register. (2007). "Public Sector Corruption and Major
Earthquakes: A Potentially Deadly Interaction." Public Choice, Vol. 132, no. 1-2, pp.
209-30.
4. Harajli, M. H., S. Sadek, and R. Asbahan. (2002). "Evaluation of the Seismic Hazard of
Lebanon." Journal of Seismology, Vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 257-77.
5. Elias, A., P. Tapponnier, S.C. Singh, G.C.P. King, A. Briais, M. Daeron, H. Carton, A.
Sursock, E. Jacques, R. Jomaa, and Y. Klinger. (2007). "Active Thrusting Offshore
Mount Lebanon: Source of the Tsunamigenic A.D. 551 Beirut-Tripoli Earthquake."
Geology, Vol. 35, no. 8, pp. 755-58.
6. Daëron, M., Y. Klinger, P. Tapponnier, A. Elias, E. Jacques, and A. Sursock. (2005).
"Sources of the Large A.D. 1202 and 1759 near East Earthquakes." Geology (Boulder),
Vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 529-32.
7. Dooley, D., R. Catalano, S. Mishra, and S. Serxner. (1992). "Earthquake Preparedness:
Predictors in a Community Survey." Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 22, no.
6, pp. 451-70.
8. Junn, E. N., and D. Guerin. (1996). "Factors Related to Earthquake Preparedness among
Child Care Professionals: Theory and Policy Implications." International Journal of
Mass Disasters and Emergencies, Vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 343-59.
9. Palm, R., and J. Carroll. (1998). Illusions of Safety: Culture and Earthquake Hazard
Response in California and Japan. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
10. Edwards, M. L. (1993). "Social Location and Self-Protective Behavior: Implications for
Earthquake Preparedness." International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters,
Vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 293-303.
11. Palm, R. (1998). "Urban Earthquake Hazards: The Impacts of Culture on Perceived Risk
and Response in the USA and Japan." Applied Geography, Vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 35-46.
12. De Man, A., and P. Simpson-Housley. (1987). "Factors in Perception of Earthquake
Hazard." Perceptual and motor skills, Vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 815-20.
13. Turner, R. H., J. M. Nigg, and D. H. Paz. (1986). Waiting for Disaster: Earthquake
Watching in Southern California. California: University of California Press.
14. Mileti, D., S. Nathe, P. Gori, M. Greene, and E. Lemersal. (2004). Public Hazards
Communication and Education: The State of the Art. University of Colorado: Natural
Hazards Center.
15. Farley, J. E., H. D. Barlow, M. S. Finkelstein, and L. Riley. (1993). "Earthquake Hysteria,
before and After: A Survey and Follow-up on Public Response to the Browning
Forecast." International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, Vol. 11, no. 3, pp.
271-77.
16. Tierney, K. J., M. K. Lindell, and R. W. Perry. (2001). Facing the Unexpected: Disaster
Preparedness and Response in the United States. New York: Joseph Henry Press.
17. Mileti, D. (1999). Disasters by Design: A Reassessment of Natural Hazards in the United
States: Joseph Henry press.
18. Mileti, D. S., and J. D. Darlington. (1997). " Role of Searching in Shaping Reactions to
Earthquake Risk Information." The. Soc. Probs, Vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 89-99.
19. Mileti, D. S., and C. Fitzpatrick. (1992). "The Causal Sequence of Risk Communication in
the Parkfield Earthquake Prediction Experiment." Risk Analysis, Vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 393-
400.
20. Blanchard-Boehm, R. D. (1998). "Understanding Public Response to Increased Risk from
Natural Hazards: Application of the Hazards Risk Communication Framework."
International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, Vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 247-78.
21. Russell, L. A., J. D. Goltz, and L. B. Bourque. (1995). "Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation
Actions before and after Two Earthquakes." Environment and Behavior, Vol. 27, no. 6,
pp. 744-70.
22. Mulilis, J.P., T.S. Duval, and R. Lippa. (1990). "The Effects of a Large Destructive Local
Earthquale on Earthquake Preparedness as Assessed by an Earthquake Preparedness
Scale." Natural Hazards, Vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 357-71.
23. Gay, L. R., G. E. Mills, and P. Airasian. (2006). Educational Research, Competencies for
Analysis and Applications. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
24. Paton, D. (2000). "Emergency Planning: Integrating Community Development, Community
Resilience and Hazard Mitigation." Journal of the American Society of Professional
Emergency Managers, Vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 109-18.
25. Paton, D. (2003). "Disaster Preparedness: A Social Cognitive Perspective." Disaster
Prevention and Management, Vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 210-16.
26. Paton, D., D. Johnston, and B. Haughton. (2001). "Direct and Vicarious Experience of
Volcanic Hazard: Implications for Risk Perception and Adjustment Adoption."
Australian Journal of Emergency Management, Vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 58-63.