Prevention and control
efforts need to be multidisciplinary and should include public
education
programs, as well as better building design and improved quality of
construction in those areas most likely to suffer an earthquake
(92). The problem of
"earthquake casualties" involves questions of seismology, the
engineering of the built environment, the nature of both the
physical and the sociological environments, aspects of personal and
group psychology and behavior, short- and long-term economic issues,
and many planning and preparedness aspects.
Public-health and disaster-response officials need to work
together in the effort to develop and maintain effective seismic
safety-planning and earthquake mitigation programs (79).