Earthquake Math Trail - Earthquake Protection

Being prepared for The Big One is important assuming that you would like to minimize personal and financial endangerments. Here are a few basic tips on how to do so:


1)	It is suggested that citizens of British Columbia should be prepared to survive on their own without aid for 72 hours in the event of an earthquake. Convert 72 hours into seconds. (source of information: http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/prepare_now/prepare.html)
2)	In the event of an earthquake, water that is deemed unsafe to drink can be make drinkable by adding 4 drops ( say 4 ml) of household liquid bleach into 4.5 litres of that water. What is then the percentage of bleach of that solution? (source of information: http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/prepare_now/prepare.html)
3)	The city of New Westminster suggests that citizens should "securely mount and brace light fixtures to ceiling joists." Suppose a light fixture is located 3 metres above head level. What is the velocity that the fixture would crush onto someone's skull if it is not properly secured? (Note: d=4.9t^2; v=9.8t, where d is distance, t is time, v is velocity)

A generally accepted rule of thumb is that you should not risk more than 10% of your liquid assets." Suppose you liquid assets are worth $35,000.

a) What is the minimum amount of coverage that a homeowner should be insured with?

b) What is the maximum amount the homeowner should have the ability to recognize?

The following is a chart of the amount of coverage with corresponding annual premiums for homeowners in San Diego Oceanside who want to be insured by AMCO for a new home. (source of information: http://160.88.209.44/pls/wu_survey_homeowners/hpsw_get_prem$.startup)

Amount	Annual Premiums
$80,000	$193
$100,000	$220
$120,000	$258
$150,000	$315
$160,000	$334
$200,000	$365
$250,000	$450
$300,000	$520
$500,000	$732