----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office of Environment, Health and Safety July, 1993 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * COMMUNICATIONS DURING AN EARTHQUAKE Earthquakes are occurring more often and at a stronger magnitude. We are in a period of heightened seismic activity. In just one year, California has experienced three large quakes. In June 1992, the ground shook twice resulting from the 7.3 magnitude Landers quake, followed by the 6.3 Big Bear tremor. In May of this year, a 6.0 magnitude quake hit Bishop. Where and when will the next earthquake strike? Will you know what to do? Are you and your loved ones prepared? Readiness is the key to reliability and responsiveness in emergencies. Everyone has grown increasingly reliant on telecommunications. New technologies, such as fiber optical transmission and advanced signaling systems, have been developed and are being implemented at a rapid rate. New systems, based on emerging technologies such as digital cellular radio, mobile satellite, and air-to-ground phones are being put into place by independent companies. What is the average person's expectation regarding telecommunications during an earthquake? What type of communications will be available for you? You may have access to one or more of the following: - Regular phone - Pay phone - Cellular phone - Ham radio - Campus Phone * REGULAR PHONES According to Pacific Bell, after an earthquake some calls may not go through or may be delayed because: - The network may be damaged - The network may be congested If the network is down in the affected area, this would effect local and long distance calls. If there is no dial tone, stay on the line. It will take longer to get a dial tone because the network will be so congested from: 1)people trying to call their family and friends, 2) telephone handsets being knocked off their cradles, 3) emergency personnel trying to conduct business. In a disaster, essential lines have priority. Essential line service is given to police, paramedics, hospitals, and other necessary functions. Controls are put into place to restrict calls allowing emergency personnel priority through the essential line service. After an earthquake, don't use your phone unless it is an emergency. Remember that if a handset has fallen off, place it back on the phone. If you're going to leave the area, unplug the phone. Aftershocks can cause the handsets to fall off again resulting in a very congested network. * PAY PHONES If the local network experiences equipment damage, then the community is isolated; no calls can come into or out of that area. If service is restored, pay phones will be available first because they are on essential line service. Long distance access will most likely be available before local lines. Whether you use a pay phone or any other phone, you and your family should have a designated out of state contact. Long distance communication uses a combination of fiber optics, copper wire and micro- waves which are shot over mountains by repeaters and can be rerouted if there is damage to an area. Local lines on the other hand, could be out for days due to the damage. * CELLULAR PHONES In major disasters, cellular telephones have proven valuable for emergency workers while downed subscriber lines are being replaced. Cellular phones can function even where damage to local lines and poles is heavy. Operation depends, of course, on service being available in the area and on the serving mobile telecommunications switching office surviving intact. Cellular phones can be of immediate use to individuals who might otherwise be isolated in the damaged zone. * HAM RADIOS Ham radios are also very useful during a disaster because they bypass the network. Many hospitals, cities and counties rely on Ham radios as their backup communication. * CAMPUS PHONE SYSTEM If you are at work during an earthquake, your communication needs will depend on the campus phone system. The campus telephone system's central switch is located on the second floor of Central Plant. UCI's telephone system is currently braced to withstand minor earthquakes and it is backed up by a generator. In the event of a major commercial power outage, the telephone system would continue to function. UCI's telephone system has a number of emergency features including Emergency Status and Emergency Conference Station. Remember that other important equipment will likely fail to operate after an earthquake. An important one which most likely will not be operative is the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). PREPLAN! For additional information, questions, or comments, please contact Paula Bouyounes at 856-7008 or e-mail at pabouyou@uci.edu.