Summary
Central Asia is one of the most earthquake-prone regions of the world. Parts of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well nearly all of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are located at the intersection of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, and thus, have significant zones of very high seismic risk. The risk of a large-magnitude earthquake causing significant damage with a large number of fatalities increases considering the abundance of substandard Soviet-era infrastructure, which would be less likely to perform well in such an event. Roads may become impassable, communications limited, and emergency services unavailable. OSAC constituents with operations in and travel to these areas should plan and prepare for the possibility of earthquakes, with emergency preparedness plans practiced and ready for implementation should the need arise.
Central Asia: High Seismic Risk
All Central Asian countries have significant areas of very high seismic risk, with all the big cities (with the exception of Astana and Atyrau, Kazakhstan), lying in these high-risk areas. Except for the northern two-thirds of Kazakhstan, no other areas in Central Asia are considered free from earthquake risk. Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, was hit by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in 1966, rendering 300,000 people homeless. Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, was destroyed in 1948 when a 7.3-magnitude earthquake killed between 110,000 to 176,000 people. Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, was substantially damaged by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which killed 452 people.
According to a World Bank and UN report, earthquakes represent the highest risk of any natural disaster in terms of potential loss of lives and economic damage. If similar sized seismic events as ones mentioned above were to occur today, the damage could be even greater, due to larger population numbers and increased density. A major seismic event is most likely to affect more than one country at a time, since international borders divide major population centers, such as the Fergana Valley (home to 11 million people, and shared by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan).
Emergency Preparedness Plans Save Lives
Many substandard Soviet-era buildings across Central Asia may not fare well with a major earthquake, leading to a larger scale of fatalities and destruction than if modern earthquake-resistant structures were in their place. Roads may also become impassable, with debris littering the city; communications would most likely be limited due to loss of communication infrastructure; and emergency services would be unreliable if not unavailable, as emergency response capabilities may be less capable of handling a mass casualty incident, especially if destruction occurs in the shared border areas in Fergana Valley. Security managers may find it difficult to account for staff/personnel during such an emergency. Constituents operating in and traveling to the Central Asia region should be prepared to provide for their own needs for an extended period of time, whether at work, at home, or on the road. OSAC has created this guide to help constituents think about and prepare an emergency plan for earthquakes.
What to do BEFORE an Earthquake
- Hold earthquake drills: drop, cover, and hold on. Locate safe spots in each room under a sturdy table or against an inside wall.
- Prepare your home/office by identifying the safest and the most dangerous place in each room of the house/office. Identify all exits, utility shutoff valves, and emergency and first-aid kits. Check for hazards such as loose shelves or defective wiring and gas connections (more information here).
- Devise an emergency communication plan for reuniting personnel after an earthquake. Agree on where to meet. It could take days to account for everyone or gather at the designated location, as moving around would most likely be difficult and dangerous, and lines of communication out of order. Communicate and practice your plan with personnel and any other stakeholders.
- If you are in the region with your family and children, ensure everyone involved understands the situation in an age-appropriate manner. Be aware of any school emergency plans.
- Identify resources in your neighborhood: are there doctors, nurses, or engineers among your neighbors? Where might you find water? Where is the nearest doctor, clinic, or hospital?
- Identify one person outside of the region who will coordinate personnel accountability for your organization. Keep their information (name, address, email address, and phone number) in a safe location with important travel documents.
- Please note that telephone and cell phone connection with either be busy or unavailable. Keep alternate methods of communication such as satellite phones and radios charged and in working order for use if phones and Internet are down. Radios may be one of the most reliable forms of receiving directives and other communications from the U.S. Mission or the local Government.
- Build three emergency kits: keep these at home, at your workplace, and in your car. Include food, water, first-aid kit, warm clothes and shoes, and other items listed here. Keep cash handy (local currency and dollars). Following a serious earthquake, ATMs and credit card machines are unlikely to function.
- Prepare a “go-bag,” which will be a part of your emergency kit and typically includes photocopies of important documents (additional details can be found here).
- Please note that pets are not allowed on evacuation flights. Arrange ahead of time how your pets will be cared for while you are away.
- U.S. citizens should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. It is important to keep the contact information on this site up-to-date, so that you or your designated emergency contact can be notified of developments and other valuable information.
- Ensure that your travel documents are up-to-date. If your U.S. passport has expired, you may be required to obtain a valid emergency travel document before traveling. In some cases, additional steps to determine your citizenship may also take place, delaying your departure.
What to do DURING an Earthquake
- If indoors, stay inside because objects, bricks, and wires may fall on top of you. Instead, move to a previously identified safe place in the room. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to go outside. Drop under sturdy furniture such as a heavy table, or stand against an inside wall. Stay away from windows, which may shatter.
- If outdoors, move into the open, away from buildings, utility wires, and anything that could fall on you. Drop to the ground. Stay there until the shaking stops.
- If in a crowded store or other public space, do not rush for exits. Move away from shelves containing objects that could fall.
- If in a moving vehicle and in a built-up area, slow down until you are away from buildings, trees, or utility wires. If the roadsides are clear, stop quickly. In both cases, stay in the car until the shaking stops.
- Monitor Bureau of Consular Affair’s website for updates, as this is the primary tool to disseminate important information during a crisis.
- The best way to provide information about yourself or your U.S. citizen friends/colleagues is to use this site. This information will be added to the database that we use to locate U.S. citizens and offer emergency consular assistance during a crisis. The site does not collect information on non-U.S. citizens.
- If possible, updating your status through social media sites is also an effective way to let your family, friends, or colleagues know how you are doing.
What to do AFTER an Earthquake
- Check for injuries, and if you know how, give first aid. Cover those who are seriously injured with blankets to prevent shock, but do not attempt to move them unless they are in immediate danger from falling building materials, etc.
- Turn on the radio for information on what to do.
- Monitor the Embassy/Consulate website (travel.state.gov) for Travel Alerts and breaking news.
- Do not drive. Roads damaged or blocked by debris may be dangerous. Walk or use a bike if you have to go anywhere.
- Beware of strong aftershocks. Secondary aftershocks are usually less violent than the main quake, but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures.
- Turn off gas, water, and electricity supplies, if able. Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with them.
- Do not use matches, lighters, camp stoves or barbecues, electrical equipment, or appliances that could create a spark until your area has been checked for gas leaks.
- Check for sewage and water line damage and, if found, avoid using water from the tap.
- In a disaster, Consular officers face the same constraints that you do – lack of electricity or fuel, interrupted telephone lines, closed airports, etc. The Consulate/Embassy officers must give priority to helping Americans who have been hurt or are in immediate danger.
How Would an Evacuation Work?
In the event of a major earthquake, the U.S. Embassy/Consulate may organize evacuations to help U.S. citizens leave the country. Airports may not be operational, as a major earthquake could damage runways and other aviation infrastructure for some time. Evacuation could take place from major cities, or an intermediary point away from the destruction. There may only be one or two major roads from one city to another, which may be unavailable due to extensive traffic, destruction, or emergency response.
There are additional items to consider in the event of an evacuation:
- You must have a valid U.S. passport, legal permanent resident 10 (“Green Card”), or valid U.S. visa to enter the United States, even during an emergency.
- Following a natural disaster, the U.S. mission in a country may implement authorized or ordered departure of its employees or their dependents. This status signals concern for personal safety. The private sector may use this as an indicator to make its own decision regarding its personnel leaving the country.
- U.S. citizens who plan to leave “if things get worse” should consider that commercial transportation is cheaper, more comfortable, and more flexible than government-coordinated transportation, and may not be available during a crisis.
- There are no guarantees that an evacuation can be safely executed. Many post-disaster scenarios require at least some time to be spent in country before departure becomes possible.
- U.S. Government evacuations are not free. The U.S. Government can organize evacuations, but each evacuated person will be required to pay his/her own way. Anyone evacuated on U.S. Government coordinated transport, including charter and military flights, must sign an Evacuee Manifest and Promissory Note (Form DS-5528) prior to departure. It will speed things up at the embarkation point if you have this form filled out in advance. The cost is based on the most recent standard full-rate commercial fare between the starting and ending point of the flight. Evacuees will receive a bill later; evacuees cannot get another valid passport until the cost of evacuation is repaid.
- During a crisis, the Consular Section can be quickly overwhelmed with incoming calls. Please tell your relatives and friends not to call the Consular Section for updates on the local situation or evacuation plans. All calls in the U.S. should be directed to the Overseas Citizen Services (OCS) call center: 1-888-407-4747 (from U.S. & Canada), and +1 202-501-4444 (from outside the U.S. & Canada). The call center will have the most up-to-date information.
- In an evacuation, you may only bring one suitcase, which you must be able to carry, and one small carry-on. You should pack a one-month supply of any necessary medications in the carry-on bag.
- During an evacuation, the U.S. Embassy/Consulate boards all U.S. citizens. Usually, minor U.S. citizens will travel with U.S. citizen parents. An unaccompanied U.S. citizen minor who cannot travel alone because of age or physical or mental incapacity may be accompanied by one non-citizen escort; two or more U.S. citizen minors in the same family may also be accompanied by only one non-citizen escort. Any non-citizen escort must have proper documentation (including Power of Attorney permission from child’s parents, giving him/her permission to take the child) and a visa. If the chosen escort cannot meet these requirements, the family must select another eligible escort, have the child remain in the country of residence, or arrange for the child and escort to travel to a nearby safe haven.
- Immediate non-U.S. citizen family members of an adult U.S. citizen with a visa for either the United States or the interim stopping point may board depending on space availability. A “bona fide alien family member” includes a family member who lives with the adult (over 21 years old) U.S. citizen and is related through blood, marriage, adoption, or other legal family relationship. This category does not include household staff or local national personnel.
Additional Resources
- The U.S. Mission Kazakhstan provides an Emergency Preparedness Guide, Evacuation Preparation Checklist, and Earthquake Preparedness: FAQ
- The U.S. Department of State’s Family Liaison Office (FLO): “Earthquake Safety at Post”
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security maintains an informational portal on earthquakes
- The American Red Cross offers guidance on safety and preparedness
- The U.S. Geological Society offers recommendations
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidance on “EmergencyPreparedness and Response”
- The Southern California Earthquake Center offers seven steps to earthquake safety
- The U.S. Department of Labor offers guidance specific to workplace preparedness
- The U.S. Department of State explains What the Department of State Can and Can’t Do in a Crisis
