A Story About How a Strong Earthquake Affects a Family with “Left-Behind” Children

A story about how a strong A story about how a strong earthquake affects a family earthquake affects a family with “left-behind” children with “left-behind” children Version for the General Public HOMECOMING Version for the General Public HOME This hypothetical scenario will help you understand the specific consequences of a and Relief in China in the New Era New the in China in Relief and Mitigation Prevention, Disaster for Concept New damaging earthquake and how TIPS FOR DISASTER New Concept for Disaster

children “left-behind” with a family affects earthquake a strong how about A story COMING to protect yourself. It is also RISK REDUCTION MAIN IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATIONS Prevention, Mitigation and intended to inspire you to act Relief in China in the New Era now to make yourself and your China Earthquake family safer in any possible • Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration (CEA) knowledge This project aligns with China’s • China Earthquake Disaster Prevention Center (CEDPC) future earthquake. new approach to disasters, • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China which is to: United Kingdom and United States Response to • Overseas Development Institute (ODI), UK earthquakes Prioritize prevention; combine • Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, UK prevention with preparedness • Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, UK and rescue; unify regular disaster • GeoHazards International (GHI), USA Search reduction and extraordinary FUNDERS disaster relief; shift focus from post-disaster relief to prevention • National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), China beforehand, from coping with • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK Rescue single disasters to comprehensive • Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK • Newton Fund, UK disaster reduction, and from reducing losses to mitigating Disaster disaster risks; fully raise the preparedness comprehensive capability of the whole society to resist Earthquake disaster natural disasters. risk reduction tips

and more … (Version for the General Public)

This scenario describes how a repeat of Janise Rodgers, Guiwu Su, the historical 1568 Shaanxi Northeast Xi’an Timothy Sim, Philip England, earthquake could impact a family with John Young, Wenhua Qi “left-behind” children in a rural village in and others Weinan, if it occurred in the present day. HOME COMING

A story about how a strong earthquake affects a family with “left-behind” children

Version for the General Public

Janise Rodgers, Guiwu Su, Timothy Sim, Philip England, John Young, Wenhua Qi and others A NOTE CAUTION FOR READERS EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Leading authors This hypothetical scenario is NOT a This document is intended for the prediction of a specific disaster. It does general public in Weinan, who already • Janise Rodgers GeoHazards International (GHI), USA NOT mean that an earthquake akin to know their community well. For • Guiwu Su Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration (CEA) the one described will happen in readers not local to the area, including • Timothy Sim The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), China Weinan in the near future. No one international readers, this note provides • Philip England Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, UK knows when or where the next earth- basic background about Weinan. • John Young Overseas Development Institute (ODI), UK quake might occur, nor how large and • Wenhua Qi Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration (CEA) Weinan is located in Shaanxi Province, damaging it might be. to the east of Xi’an in the Wei River Authors The family’s hypothetical story, and the valley. Please see the map on page 10. Contributors from the same organization are listed in alphabetical order of their last names study upon which it is based, provide an The two municipal districts of the study example of what may happen if the 1568 area this story describes, Linwei and • Xiaoli Li Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration (CEA) earthquake were to strike in present day Huazhou, contain the main urban areas • Zhiqiang Li • Yaohui Liu Weinan. People can learn from it to plan of Weinan (a prefecture, which is a larger • Min Qi for safer outcomes before a real earth- administrative area with additional • Lei Sun quake occurs. districts), as well as large rural areas • Jie Gao China Earthquake Disaster Prevention Center located in the valley, the yellow-soil The scenario is intended only for use • Dongming Wang (loess) plateau, and the Qinling in planning, preparedness, and raising • Wei Shi mountain to the south. As of 2017, awareness of local earthquake risk. • Chunlan Guo The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), China Linwei and Huazhou districts had a total Some actions taken by the children in • Junlei Yu population of over 1.3 million and a Gross the story’s village setting may not be • Xijie Feng Shaanxi Earthquake Agency, China Domestic Product of 46.6 billion RMB. advisable in other contexts. The • Ji Ma authors, funders, publisher and other Linwei District adjoins eastern Xi’an, • Kun Chen Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration (CEA) contributors to this report are not which is one of the most historically • Yue Cao Overseas Development Institute (ODI), UK responsible for any interpretation or and culturally important areas of the • Barry Parsons Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, UK use beyond the purposes stated. country with numerous heritage sites. • Emily So Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, UK Weinan was devastated by the deadliest • Arrietta Chakos Urban Resilience Strategies, USA earthquake in recorded history, the 1556 • Craig Davis Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, USA (Retired) Huaxian earthquake (approximately • Alexander Densmore Department of Geography, Durham University, UK M8). Today Weinan remains at risk from • David Milledge School of Engineering, Newcastle University, UK numerous active earthquake faults in the Wei River valley. • Illustrator: Siu Kuen Lai Lotersy Arts and Printing Co., Hong Kong, China • Book Designer: Sandy Lui Lui & Co Design, Hong Kong, China HOMECOMING

2 3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE CONTENTS

This earthquake scenario narrative is a product The principal investigators (PIs) of the project are: The scenario is supported by a dozen technical The narrative presented here is for public use. of an international collaboration (PAGER-O: papers in academic journals that document It includes the following three aspects. China Pan-participatory Assessment and Governance the basis for the hypothetical but plausible First, a graphic novel describes a fictional local, of Earthquake Risks in the Ordos Area) funded • Guiwu Su from Institute of Geology, earthquake, on which the scenario is built, rural family with “left-behind” children, and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Earthquake Administration (CEA) and which explain the basis for calculations their experiences in the scenario earthquake China (NSFC) and by the Natural Environment of vulnerabilities and risks to the city of United Kingdom and its aftermath. The storylines of this novel Research Council (NERC) and the Economic and Weinan and its surrounding areas, if such were carefully constructed to highlight the key Social Research Council (ESRC) of the UK. This • John Young from Overseas an earthquake were to occur. This technical Development Institute earthquake risk problems that Weinan faces. programme aimed to combine the strengths analysis is accompanied by two audience- • Philip England from Department of Earth of physical and social sciences to increase specific narratives of what the impacts might Second, key results of the scenario are Sciences, University of Oxford resilience and reduce risks from multi-hazards be on the Weinan area in the event of such, presented succinctly; detailed scientific in earthquake-prone regions in China. PI Guiwu Su provided overall project leadership aiming to facilitate bridging the gap between information can be found in the technical and guidance, as did PIs John Young and Philip sciences and policies to reduce earthquake risk. papers mentioned above. The PAGER-O project focused on the Ordos area England. The scenario’s narrative story was The first audience is government staff, while The third aspect is the provision of basic with the specific goal of bridging the gaps between written by Janise Rodgers with assistance from the second is the general public. The aim of the knowledge on earthquake disasters, basic science and policy and between top-down and numerous team members including Guiwu two different narratives is to facilitate bridging information on earthquake safety for the bottom-up approaches to disaster risk reduction Su, Timothy Sim, Wenhua Qi, Chunlan Guo, the top-down and the bottom-up approaches general public, and tips on family earthquake (DRR) to improve resilience to earthquakes. The Junlei Yu, Arrietta Chakos and Philip England, to improving earthquake safety, preparedness, disaster preparedness. project used a highly collaborative, participatory translated into Chinese by Guiwu Su and the and resilience. approach to develop an earthquake scenario for CEA team, and illustrated by Siu Kuen Lai. It The last two aspects were woven around the Weinan City, which brought together a trans- is based on active fault investigations by Xijie storylines to help the local public to easily disciplinary team of international and Chinese Feng and Ji Ma; ground shaking estimates by understand the narrative and in the hope of physical science, social science, policy and Kun Chen and Barry Parsons; loss estimation encouraging people to make use of the basic engineering researchers and local stakeholders calculations for rural buildings by Li Zhiqiang’s knowledge, information, and skills to build to co-identify earthquake risk, co-explore team at CEA, for urban buildings by Wang their own bottom-up pathways to earthquake pathways to earthquake resilience, and motivate Dongming’s team of CEDPC, and for landslides risk reduction and make themselves and their co-operative action for reducing earthquake risk. by David Milledge and Alexander Densmore; families safer. qualitative observations of infrastructure The main implementation organizations of the vulnerability led by Craig Davis and Wenhua Qi; PAGER-O project include: and social science research by Guiwu Su and China the CEA team, and Timothy Sim and the PolyU team. John Young and Yue Cao provided policy • Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration (CEA) and process guidance, while Emily So provided • China Earthquake Disaster Prevention Center casualty estimation expertise. Janise Rodgers (CEDPC) and Arrietta Chakos provided expertise on • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China creating and using earthquake scenarios. The United Kingdom and United States ideation and discussion of the overall structure of the narrative was led by Janise Rodgers, • Overseas Development Institute (ODI), UK Guiwu Su and Timothy Sim, while the detailed HOMECOMING • Department of Earth Sciences, style of the book was designed by Sandy Lui. University of Oxford, UK • Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, UK • GeoHazards International (GHI), USA 4 5 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

EARTHQUAKE The PAGER-O project involved the contri- Sincere thanks go to many others, too SCENARIO What is an earthquake scenario? 8 butions of a large number of other local numerous to name. Many Shaanxi or Beijing- FINDINGS The characters 10 organizations, researchers and stakeholders based consultants gave constructive comments working to reduce disaster risk. In particular, and advice either on the development of the CHAPTER 1 The best noodles 12 the authors sincerely thank the following earthquake scenario, or on its communica- CHAPTER 2 Home is far away 15 organizations for their substantial help and tion products, or on application or replication participation during the progress of the work: directions of this kind of scenario approach. CHAPTER 3 Earthquake!!! 18 various divisions of Shaanxi Earthquake Special thanks go to over 15 thousand local The scenario earthquake and shaking intensity map 21 Agency, Weinan Earthquake Administration, primary or high school students, their teachers EARTHQUAKE Earthquake Administration Office of Huazhou and parents, and the general public for their PREPAREDNESS & Earthquake Basics 22 district of Weinan, Weinan Education Adminis- cooperative responses to questionnaires, RESPONSE TIPS How to respond and avoid dangers tration, other numerous Weinan agencies in surveys, and interviews about earthquake when an earthquake happens 24 the Leading Group on Protecting Against and disaster awareness, preparedness and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters of Weinan, resilience. Thanks go to the CCTB Translation CHAPTER 4 Where is Grandma? 27 Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Disasters Monitoring Service in assisting the translation of “New How to help find people trapped in houses 30 & Mechanism Simulation based at Baoji Univer- Concept for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and sity of Arts and Sciences, School of Architecture Relief in China in the New Era”. CHAPTER 5 The community helps each other 33 and Civil Engineering of Xi'an University of Rescue priorities 35 Science and Technology, Gender Development Solution of Shaanxi Province, and Environmental House damage 36 Education Center of Beijing Normal University. Landslides 37

CHAPTER 6 Rushing home – Jianguo 38

CHAPTER 7 Rushing home – Haiyan 40 Disaster preparedness and response tips 41

CHAPTER 8 Waiting for morning to come 46

CHAPTER 9 Ma and Pa are back! 49

CHAPTER 10 Looking for Grandma in the hospital 52

CHAPTER 11 Uncle Jianjun’s new earthquake story 56

CHAPTER 12 Homemade chicken soup 59 Learn earthquake safety 61

Homecoming – A story about how a strong earthquake affects CHAPTER 13 Building an earthquake-resistant house 62 a family with “left-behind” children (Version for the General Public) CHAPTER 14 Longing to go back to school 64

HOMECOMING Janise Rodgers, Guiwu Su, Timothy Sim, Philip England, John Young, Wenhua Qi and others CHAPTER 15 A meal together 66

Contact: Guiwu Su • Tel: 010-62009075 • Email: [email protected] • Address: Yard No.1, Hua Yan Li, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, Postal code: 100029

Printed in April 2019 6 7 EARTHQUAKE EARTHQUAKE SCENARIO FINDINGS SCENARIO FINDINGS

1568 Where will I be? What is an Earthquake Scenario?

A scenario tells the story of a plausible Has my family earthquake and how it would likely Scenario and community Earthquake affect people, the community, and prepared for an the places we live. The consequences 1568 earthquake? are based on standard methods that Where are my Gaoling engineers and scientists use to children, my spouse, (Northeast Xi’an) estimate the shaking, damage and my parents? Approximately impacts on people that a given earth- Magnitude 7 (M7) quake may cause. This scenario story describes what could happen to one family in the Linwei and Huazhou Districts of Weinan if the 1568 earthquake occurred in the present day. Do we know It is not a prediction of a specific what to do during disaster. It does not mean that an heavy shaking, earthquake like the one described Simulated to stay safe? will happen in Weinan in the near Scenario Impacts future. No one knows when or where Present days the next earthquake might occur, What must I do Linwei and Huazhou first? Who will nor how large and damaging it might Districts, Weinan be. Rather, this scenario is an exam- need me? A rural family ple to help you understand specific consequences, decide how you might respond, and learn what you can do now to lessen the impacts of any future earthquake. This scenario The damage and consequences this begins with an earthquake at 14:02 story describes need not happen. on a Saturday in April. Weinan residents and officials can take action now to that will reduce

HOMECOMING Ask yourself: future earthquake damage, protect people’s lives and make the community safer and more resilient.

8 9 BEIJING

WEINAN

XI’AN

SHANGHAI

The Characters UNCLE HAIYAN GRANDMA XIAOSHUAI XIAOMEI JIANJUN JIANGUO

In her 30s, daugh- 60 years old, 12-year-old grand- 8-year-old grand- 28 years old, In his 30s, older ter-in-law, works mother of Jianguo son, attends daughter, attends younger son, a son, works on a HOMECOMING waiting tables at a and Jianjun, she school in a neigh- school in a neigh- veteran, works concrete crew for restaurant in Xi’an looks after two boring village boring village as a government a construction grandchildren and officer in Weinan company in their orchard, in Shanghai 10 a village on the 11 Weinan tableland CHAPTER 1 Xiaoshuai flashed a 12-year-old You eat so much these days, grin and returned to slurping down but you’re still that thin. The Best Noodles his noodles at an astonishing rate. Where does it all go? TIME Friday evening, April

PLACE Xingfu Village, atop the Weinan tableland in Linwei District

It was a Friday evening in April, and the siblings had just returned home from school in a neighboring village, where they had been staying since Monday.

Eat some more Saozi mian, Xiaomei, otherwise, your brother will eat them all. I miss your noodles during the Yeah – save me some! week, Grandma. The noodles in our school are good, but yours are the best.

Yeah, theirs aren’t Why can’t you come nearly as good. and be the cook at our school? HOMECOMING

12 13 CHAPTER 2

That’s just what I want to do in my old age ... Home is Far Away And besides, who would take care of TIME Friday 21:30 the orchard? ... feed a hundred PLACE Xi’an and Shanghai children every day who eat like you two. Without your grandfather, it’s just me and your uncle – Haiyan tapped her video call when he can come up and Ring ... Pick up the phooone, icon for the third time. help me a little bit. Ring ... my break is going to be over in 10 minutes.

Why can’t Ma come home ... and your mother more often, on the weekend, Now that is serving people like she used to? I miss her your father is noodles at and Pa so much! in Shanghai that restaurant Ring ... building down in Ring ... those tall Xi’an. buildings ... Jianguo’s sense of humor didn’t seem to diminish by Hiiiii what must have been a long day pumping concrete beee-yooouuu-teee-fulll for the skyscraper his employer was building.

Xiaoshuai shot his sister a cautioning look. He was old enough to notice the hint of sadness in Grandma’s voice every time she had to answer that type of question, even though her reply was predictably cheerful. HOMECOMING Now, finish eating so that we’ll have time to clean up before your father calls.

14 15 He had sent her a photo of the Shanghai construction site every day, taken at the same spot with himself in I thought you were Just talked to them. We should finish in a month, So far, we are the top crew. some silly pose. asleep. I couldn’t get Today was great – and then the boss says If you can get time off through for a long time! we’re up to the 50th floor! the top-performing concrete then too, we can go back Aren’t you tired? crews can all have a week home together. off at home before we start the next job.

And miss talking to my I do NOT sling beautiful wife after her anybody’s noodles! long evening of slinging noodles? Noooo.

That’s great, but how can we afford it, Jianguo? We just came home for Spring Festival. We could barely make our payment to the lender. How can we take a week off again so soon?

Don’t worry! Mr. Liu is A whole week together Now, because Somebody going to give the top two with her family was nearly wouldn’t pick up my call, I have only crews a full week, paid. too nice to think about. 10 minutes before staff dinner.

How was your day? Did you talk to the kids yet? HOMECOMING

And a bonus.

16 17 CHAPTER 3

I would beat you even Earthquake!!! if you got a head start... TIME Saturday 14:02

PLACE Xingfu Village, atop the Weinan tableland in Linwei District You always get So... a head start – it’s not fair!

...Slow!

Xiaoshuai shouted over his shoulder, almost tripping on a root.

You’re so slow, Xiaomei!

No, I’m not! HOMECOMING

He tried to go faster but felt The path beneath him seemed something very strange... to move sideways. 18 19 EARTHQUAKE SCENARIO FINDINGS Rumble... Rumble... The Scenario Earthquake and Rumble... Rumble... Shaking Intensity Map

He heard a noise like a train or THE SCENARIO EARTHQUAKE distant thunder, but louder. If the 1568 TIME At 14:02 local time on a Saturday in April approximately M7 Gaoling (Northeast Along the Weinan-Jingyang Fault on the west PLACE Xi’an) earthquake side of Linwei District, towards Xi’an Just as he turned to look back for his occurs today sister, the ground really started to Earthquake Magnitude: Approximately M7 shake, and he couldn’t run anymore.

In a flash, he remembered bits of stories from his uncle Jianjun, and some tips he learned at school.

KE! H Q UA EART

LEGEND epicenter surface isoseismal projection of the line rupture place

river lake or reservoir

Shaking intensity map of a repeat of the 1568 approximately M7 Gaoling (Northeast Xi’an) earthquake.

At 14:02 local time on a Saturday of lines, roads, pipes, floodwalls, and April, an approximately M7 earth- buildings. Near the fault, the shaking quake occurs along the Weinan-Jing- is intensity IX to X, meaning that yang Fault on the west side of Linwei people riding bicycles fall down, many District, towards Xi’an. The earthquake buildings are damaged and destroyed, ruptures the ground surface for 56 and slopes collapse. Similarly strong km. The north side of the fault moves shaking has been observed in past HOMECOMING Earthquake! Earthquake! downwards relative to the south side earthquakes of this type and size Xiaomei! Crouch down by more than 60 cm on average, and elsewhere in the world. In urban 1 Yuan, T.H. & Feng X.J. (2010). The on the ground! 1 1556 Great Huaxian Earthquake. by more than 1 m in some locations . Linwei, the ground shakes strongly Beijing: Seismological Press (in Chinese). This fault movement damages rail for more than 20 seconds. 20 21 EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS & EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE TIPS RESPONSE TIPS Earthquake Basics

THE CHINESE SEISMIC INTENSITY SCALE COMMON EARTHQUAKE TERMINOLOGY Intensity As experienced by people Damage

I Not felt —— 地震三要素Fundamental earthquake features

II Felt by very few people indoors —— In China, earthquakes are described III Felt by a few still people indoors Slight swing of suspended objects by their three fundamental features: IV Felt by most people indoors, Obvious swing of suspended objects; the time when they occur, the location, a few people outdoors; a few vessels rattle and the magnitude. sleeping people awake Earthquake magnitude

V Commonly felt by people indoors, Rocking or flipping of unstable objects felt by most people outdoors; Magnitude (M) is a measure of the most wake up from sleep energy released by an earthquake. The VI Most people unable to stand, Furniture and items moving; cracks in stronger the earthquake, the higher a few are frightened and river banks and soft soil; occasional burst the magnitude. The energy released run outdoors of sand and water from saturated sand increases by 32 times from one mag- layers; cracks on some stand-alone chimneys nitude unit to the next. For example, a M7 earthquake releases 32 times VII Majority of people frightened Objects fall from the shelves; river banks and run outdoors, felt by bicycle collapse; frequent burst of sand and water more energy than a M6 earthquake. riders and people in moving from saturated sand layers; many cracks M3 & People can generally feel an motor vehicles in soft soils; moderate destruction of What > 80% ABOVE earthquake. most stand-alone chimneys percentages are “commonly” VIII Most people find it difficult Many cracks in hard dry soils; possible meant by these Damages to buildings may to walk cracks and dislocations in bedrock; terms? M5 OR occur. In China it is categorized 60-90% frequent landslides and collapses; GREATER as a “damaging earthquake”. collapse of many stand-alone chimneys “majority” IX Moving or standing people Many cracks in hard dry soils; possible Earthquake intensity fall down cracks and dislocations in bedrock; 40 -70% frequent landslides and collapses; Intensity expresses the strength of collapse of many stand-alone chimneys “most” shaking from an earthquake at a Bicycle riders may fall; people Cracks in bedrock and earthquake specific location. It generally describes X 10-45% in unstable situations may fall; fractures; destruction of arch bridge the level of damage an earthquake sense of being thrown up founded in bedrock; foundation damage “few” causes to buildings and lifeline in the air or collapse of most stand-alone chimneys infrastructure, ground rupture such as landslides and liquefaction, and

HOMECOMING —— Earthquake fractures extend a long way; <10% XI effects on people. In China, there are many bedrock cracks “very few” 12 levels on the intensity scale. XII —— Drastic change in landscape, The higher the intensity of an earth- mountains, and rivers quake is, the greater the damage 22 and harm it will cause. 23 EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS & EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE TIPS RESPONSE TIPS How to Respond and Avoid Dangers When an Earthquake Happens ✔

KEEP CALM 1 IF YOU ARE AT HOME WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE OCCURS 2 IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE OCCURS

In a high-rise building In a single-storey building — Go to an open space, away — Stay away from steep slopes and KEEP CALM ✘ People in high rise buildings should As soon as possible, or once strong from anything that could fall on cliffs (such as loess tableland quickly find a place to be safe from shaking stops, people in single- you. Get low or crouch down. edges), as well as stream valleys, falling objects that are heavy or storey buildings should go quickly to Stay away from buildings and because an earthquake can sharp. If possible, take cover under an open space outside, away from structures, because they could trigger rock slides, landslides, In case of rockfall, landslide, etc., sturdy tables and beds, by empty buildings that may fail or shed debris. collapse, or objects could fall mud slides and other secondary run across in the direction perpen- corners of interior walls, beside fixed In the midst of very strong shaking, it from the exterior and injure you. hazards. Be watchful near river- dicular to rolling stones or moving furniture, in bathrooms, etc. Drop is best to take cover beneath a strong — Stay away from glass walls, tower banks, because an earthquake slopes (not downhill), or cover under down to avoid falling, protect your table, by a Kang (Chinese rural brick cranes, chimneys, water towers, can cause an upstream dam objects that are solid enough, and head and neck and make yourself bed with integrated furnace under- and other high structures. These to break. protect your head. small to help avoid being struck by neath for heating), or by an interior could break or fall. ✘ falling objects. corner. Try to use materials at hand — Stay away from power trans- IF YOU ARE IN A CROWDED OR DENSELY to protect your head, such as pillows formers, utility poles, power lines 3 POPULATED PLACE WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE OCCURS or a wooden cutting board. — Stay off balconies and (especially broken lines), street MOVE away from windows from lights, advertising signboards, etc. — Follow staff’s directions. If you are in your office CAREFULLY! which you could fall or be Wherever you find yourself These might carry live voltage. — Evacuate quickly if you are near Quickly take cover under a sturdy struck by glass. in an earthquake — Stay away from places where an exit. office table or next to a cupboard — Don’t use elevators, even — Stay calm and think first, because poisonous, inflammable or — If you cannot evacuate quickly, fixed to the wall. Hold on to some- after shaking is over, running carelessly can put you explosive substances are stored. stay away from crowds rushing thing (table leg, etc.) so that you because they could be in danger. — Stay away from narrow streets, to exits, and look for shelter as move with the protective item, or squat down by a corner wall; try to damaged. — Protect yourself from suspended masonry houses and walls, tile quickly as possible. ✘ turn off power switches. — Do not run downstairs ceilings, pendant lamps or other roofs, wood piles, etc. These — If you are already in a crowd, with the crowd. objects that can dislodge and could fall on you or trap you. cross your arms over your chest If you work at a restaurant — Do not jump from floors hurt you. — Stay away from flyovers, over- and protect your space using your or factory passes and any type of bridges shoulder and back. above the ground level. — Avoid unfixed furniture that can It is very important that employees and tunnels. Damages to these move and injure you. — If you cannot get out of a crowd, quickly put out open flames, turn structures could block your route — Wait to go back into buildings for pick up your feet while walking to off power, and close valves of or trap you. any purpose, because an after- avoid tripping and move forward flammable, explosive, or poisonous shock may cause further damage with the crowd, try to not fall gases first, and then evacuate or

HOMECOMING that could trap you. down, and do not try to go the take cover as soon as possible. This opposite direction. — Keep a distance from weak is to prevent fires, which can rage buildings, walls, parapets, and — Avoid causing a stampede. uncontrolled after an earthquake. decorative protrusions, because 24 these may still fail and cause harm. 25 CHAPTER 4 Is everyone out? Where is Grandma? TIME Saturday 14:05 TIME Saturday 14:06

PLACE The restaurant in south Xi’an PLACE Xingfu Village, atop the Weinan tableland in Linwei District

He turned and took Yes, I think everyone but his sister’s hand. Mr. Li, who went to make Xiaoshuai, wait! sure the gas is off.

I can barely see you.

People packed Yanta Road in south Xi’an. Everyone Landslides along the edge of the loess was on edge after the earthquake and on their phone, plateau, and collapsing buildings, had sent but there were few conversations because no one large clouds of dust billowing into the air. could get through. It all seemed to be drifting over their village.

I saw the kitchen staff go out the back I think it’s getting thicker! Hurry! You know door. And of course the customers were Cover your nose and mouth Grandma’s worried all long gone as soon as the shaking so you won’t breathe in about us. stopped. Or before! Get the servers so much dust. together and stay outside in one spot.

Yes, and I'll get everyone else from the back and bring them. HOMECOMING

26 27 Grandma? Grandma? Xiaoshuai ~ Grandma?

We’re here, we’re okay. There was so much dust Nngh ~ we could barely see on our way home.

Nngh ~ Grandma! That’s her! I think she’s somewhere inside.

Go get Mr. Zhang to She’s underneath that help. Run fast. brick pile. There!

We have to get her out before there’s an aftershock.

Through the dimness, Xiaoshuai could just make out the outline of their house. Or was it? It was a strange shape, as if the corner had been sawn off by a giant hand, and the tall roof wasn’t as tall and straight anymore. As they came closer, they could see roof tiles lying in heaps on the ground. Ouch... Help... Grandma, Nngh ~ Nngh ~ Grandma? I’m going to get you out. They saw large cracks in the walls and Grandma, stopped short, fearful of going closer. we’re going to Grandma? get you out. HOMECOMING Grandma! Grandma! No, Xiaoshuai! Those Where are you? bricks will fall on you.

28 29 EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE TIPS Xiaomei took a long look at her ... toward the lane and down to the street brother’s determined face, where the Zhang family lived. Xiaomei How to Help Find People and turned and ran as fast as sprinted past heaps of rubble where Trapped in Houses she could ... gates and houses once stood. She hoped she could get back with help in time, hoped that Mr. Zhang was okay Based on the experience of recent earthquakes in and that he was still at home. Zhangming mainland China, the five-steps “Ask, listen, observe, was one of the few people remaining in Find out how many search, shout” proved effective to find people who are the village that could lift heavy things. people are trapped; trapped in collapsed houses or other buildings. The others had gone to the cities to work. Cover your nose and mouth ask if family, friends with a cloth, for example Engage family or acquaintances your sleeve or shirt, to members, friends, were nearby when Xiaomei sped around the corner and saw the Zhang house still standing. avoid inhaling dust. Building and acquaintances the earthquake The Zhangs had recently built a new house, using an earthquake- collapses and landslides to call the name of occurred, and their resistant design and employing builders trained under the Skill Training may produce heavy dust, the trapped person. possible location. Project for Rural Construction Workers on Earthquake-Resistant especially in the loess areas. Buildings. As a result, it did not have much damage. People were there! Everyone turned to look at Xiaomei as she flew down the street, and If you are near a chemical Ask Shout skidded to a stop. plant or other sources of poisonous gas and poisonous gas is leaking, take refuge immediately in a higher place in the upwind direction. Cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth or towel. 5 STEPS TO FIND TRAPPED EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS Cover your nose and mouth Search Listen

SURVIVAL TIP ✔

Be very quiet Grandpa Zhang! Observe so you can hear Grandpa Zhang... Look for trapped sounds that a people between person may make, The elder Zhang, Mr. Zhang Ming’s gaps in rubble or such as a call for father, had retired from being the behind obstacles. help, a moan, village leader a few years ago, but or tapping. he was still able to take charge of a situation.

HOMECOMING Check for limbs Xiaomei! Slow down, sticking out, blood and tell me what stains, clothes or happened to your family. other signs.

30 31 CHAPTER 5

Grandma is trapped under a pile of bricks. The wall fell on her. Please come now The Community and help dig her out! TIME Saturday 14:43 Helps Each Other PLACE Xingfu Village, atop the Weinan tableland in Linwei District

When they reached the house, Xiaoshuai was He was picking up bricks one at a time indeed inside. from the pile, and tossing them aside.

Can you hear or see her?

We heard her but Please hurry! all we can see is part of her shirt.

Xiaoshuai is there by himself. I am afraid he will go in and more bricks will He had managed to fully uncover fall down on him, or an Grandma’s head and arms, which were aftershock will happen. dusty but otherwise looked pretty good. She had just managed to shield her head with a wooden cutting board when the wall came down on her. The tallest part of Hurry. A lot of Mingming, go with Xiaomei now! Yan, the nephews and I will try to find Mr. Wang the brick pile pinned her right leg. people may need Be careful not to hurt Grandma and assess the situation. The mobile service help. But her situation Zhao further when you take her isn’t working, so we will have to go in person. out, and be safe yourself. seems quite serious. And help cheer her up.

HOMECOMING Mr. Wang was the new village leader. He lived in a very tall house at the other end of the village, with high brick walls that seemed enormous to Xiaomei. 32 33 EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE TIPS

Stay out, Xiaomei! Good work, Xiaoshuai, but you go out too. I don’t want you under this damaged wall. Rescue Priorities Work from the outside. Go see if you can find your brother a pair of gloves and a basket for carrying And first see if you can find QUICK & TIMELY RESCUE bricks. Look in the yard. a board to put underneath 1 Do easy tasks first, Don’t go back in the house. difficult tasks later her so we can lift her without Do easy tasks first, difficult tasks later. moving her as much. Save the living first, bring out the dead later. In this scenario, Xiaoshuai Pay attention to protecting first removes the rubble near his the supports for the Grandma’s head to make sure that remaining structure, Thirty minutes later, Grandma was Zhang Ming splinted it to a board she can breathe well. and protect yourself finally out of the house. One with strips of cloth. The other leg was Protect your head, neck leg was clearly badly broken. bruised and swollen. Though she While digging out trapped people, and spine from injury was almost too weak to speak, she rescuers should protect the supporting complained of pains in her hip, too. structure to avoid new collapses. Be alert for aftershocks This avoids further injuries to trapped SURVIVAL people and protects rescuers. Be TIP aware of dangerous houses and walls ✔ Ohh, my hip that have not collapsed completely. hurts! Be alert for aftershocks. In this scenario, Grandpa Zhang tells Zhang Ming, who is going to help grand- Zhang Ming and Xiaoshuai lifted her On the way to Zhang Ming’s house, they were told ma, “be careful not to cause further on a board and gently placed her in that the tall Wang house built by untrained builders a wheelbarrow from the toolshed had collapsed. Sadly, there were no signs of life injuries to grandma, and be safe.” heading to the Zhang house. from inside. SETTLEMENT TEMPORARY AFTER THE RESCUE SHELTERS 2 Cover your head and neck After rescuing a trapped person, When arranging temporary shelters with your hands or with check for injuries and treat promptly. for disaster victims: materials, such as a pillow or Treatment will require a person who — Avoid dangerous houses / walls, schoolbag. Keep your head is trained in basic first-aid skills, chimneys, water towers, power low if possible, close your eyes to keep out dust and debris. such as wound cleaning and lines (especially high-voltage dressing, fracture treatment, and power lines), and other danger- In this scenario, Xiaoshuai’s The elder Mr. Zhang was organizing artificial respiration. ous zones / items. grandma protects her head the response. and neck with a board, and — Avoid dangerous cliffs and may have saved her own life. Master basic abrupt. first-aid skills — Avoid traffic crossing and roads. — Strictly prohibit open flames. HOMECOMING — Protect the environment and prevent the spread of diseases.

34 35 EARTHQUAKE EARTHQUAKE SCENARIO FINDINGS SCENARIO FINDINGS Building Damage Landslides

There are URBAN AREAS RURAL AREAS LINWEI & HUAZHOU

71.52 million m2 DISTRICT TOTALS Weinan tableland: Earth- of buildings in total in Urban parts of the two districts: Rural parts of the two districts: quake shaking triggers about 45.18 million m2 buildings (62,800 there are 26.34 million m2 buildings Linwei and Huazhou. 100 to 150 landslides in the Aftermath: In subsequent individual buildings) exist. in total. Weinan tableland. These are If the 1568 approximately months and years, landslide concentrated along the table- M7 Gaoling (Northeast Moderate to severe damage Moderate to severe damage Moderate to severe damage debris will wash into streams, land edges and in its incised Xi’an) earthquake occurred which creates debris flows, 23.08 million m2 buildings were 10.42 million m2 buildings were More than 33.5 million m2 of buildings valleys, particularly in the in the present day... chokes channels with sedi- estimated to suffer moderate to estimated to suffer moderate to were estimated to suffer moderate northern and western parts. ment, and increases flooding. ESTIMATION severe damage. Percentage of the severe damage. Percentage of the to severe damage. Percentage of In an instant, the deceptively Heavy rains trigger further Scenario total area of buildings in urban parts: total area of buildings in rural parts: the total area of all buildings: stable-looking loess – a landsliding on weakened hill- Earthquake wind-deposited soil – loses sides. Unsafe cuts into a slope 1568 51.1% 39.5% 46.8% its strength, and falls quickly can make the slope unstable Gaoling into roads, the expressway, and creates risk for a later rail lines, and the You He res- (Northeast Xi’an) Collapsed buildings Collapsed buildings Collapsed buildings landslide. If you live in the ervoir. Landslides rupture gas Approximately M7 loess plateau or mountains, 2 2 2 About 1.89 million m buildings An estimated 1.57 million m buildings About 3.46 million m of buildings lines, slice through roads, get help from a geologist and collapse. Percentage of the total area collapse. Percentage of the total area collapse. Percentage of the total and carry away buildings. follow excavation regulations of buildings in urban parts: of buildings in rural parts: area of all buildings: before building on a slope. Huashan mountain front: To 4.1% 6.0% 4.8% the east along the Huashan mountain front, smaller rock slides and rockfalls affect If the 1568 approximately M7 In rural Linwei area, there are 16.77 Unreinforced masonry buildings, railway tracks, fields, and 2 mountain roads. Gaoling (Northeast Xi’an‚ earthquake million m of buildings, and almost like the Zhao family’s home occurred in the present day, rural all of them are either brick-wood and the new village leader Southern and eastern areas in western Linwei district (28.7%) or brick-concrete (70%) type, Mr. Wang’s house in the story, mountain areas: Up to 700 would suffer very strong shaking according to the commonly used suffer the most damage. additional smaller landslides and the heaviest building damage. Chinese building type classification. of one hundred to one million In urban Linwei, small commercial m3 in volume occur in the In the scenario earthquake shaking, and older residential masonry steep mountain areas south 2 nearly 1.33 million m of these buildings suffer heavier damage. and east of Weinan’s urban buildings collapse, taking up 7.9% Many of these buildings were built areas. People in villages or of the total building area in rural before modern earthquake-resistant traveling by road and rail are 2 Linwei. A further 7.27 million m codes. Even in the comparatively caught in landslides, and suffer moderate to severe damage, newer buildings, the decorations some are injured or killed. or 43.4% of the total buildings of and partition walls might be dam- rural Linwei. aged and required to be repaired in HOMECOMING a short time after the earthquake. Damage to rural houses Most of these rural buildings are Huazhou district is farther from the after an earthquake self-built by owners, and not earthquake fault, so the shaking is constructed to any building code or not so strong as the one in Linwei. with earthquake-resistant features. 36 There is less damage in Huazhou. 37 CHAPTER 6

Media reports so far are Those of you who are from In addition, I am announcing showing extensive damage the affected areas should that Huangpu Building Rushing Home – try to contact your families in Weinan and some Construction will grant leave TIME 15:30 Saturday afternoon damage in Xi’an. immediately. of up to ten days to affected workers, starting immediately. Jianguo PLACE A construction jobsite for a new skyscraper in Shanghai

Across the sprawling jobsite, workers stopped, On each floor of the sky- looked up from their tasks and put down their tools. scraper where a crew worked, the foreman called Workers from Weinan or Xi’an, a halt and told workers to please assemble in the trailer assemble outside in the for further instructions. All yard far below. others please return to work. Thank you.

In the trailer, foreman Guo pulled Jianguo This is the shaking intensity map aside and showed him a map on his phone from the Earthquake Administration. with the western part of Weinan covered in Your home may be badly affected. angry red and orange. Go now. Take Zhou and Ma with you.

Maybe you can arrive before Over an hour ago, a major earthquake they close the road. The military occurred between Weinan and Xi’an. Rescue keeps everyone but relief vehicles operations are underway. Though we do not out, but if you are local they know the full scale of the damage yet... may let you through.

Jianguo, Zhou and Ma started the 14-hour drive on interstate G40 – the straight-arrow route to Xi’an – direct from the jobsite. They rotated driving duty, obsessed over the tiniest bits of news from WeChat, and tried to call and message their families.

No one got through to relatives in Xi’an for almost three hours due to HOMECOMING system overload, and they couldn’t reach Weinan at all.

38 39 EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS & CHAPTER 7 RESPONSE TIPS Rushing Home – Disaster Preparedness TIME 16:30 Saturday Haiyan PLACE Around a restaurant in South Xi’an and Response Tips

FAMILY EMERGENCY KIT

Haiyan and her three coworkers stared up An earthquake interrupts water drugs and supplies to prevent and No. I’m going. at the apartment building where they share I’ve got to get my bag in case supply, power, and transportation treat common minor injuries and a tiny flat on the third floor. I need to go home. I’ll come systems. Prepare to be self-sufficient diseases, masks, etc.; flashlights, right back down. If I could just for a period. Store some emergency lighters / matches, candles etc.; Do you think it’s call or find out anything... safe to go up? supplies, such as food, bottled water portable radios and batteries; and emergency clothes; essential whistles; work gloves, ropes and medicines; a basic first aid kit with small multi-purpose tools.

I don’t see any cracks anywhere, do you?

illustration EMERGENCY Offline. Beep ~ KIT Your message will be sent later.

Service Wait, I just got unavailable. signal!

Receive the latest information on a radio.

MAKE AS FEW CALLS AS POSSIBLE AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE Contact via text message, microblog and WeChat — Make as few calls as possible after get through because text an earthquake to avoid telephone message, microblog and WeChat network congestion; receive the take far less bandwidth. Major earthquake rocks Weinan... HOMECOMING latest information on a radio. Damage reported from Xi’an... China — Use text message, WeChat and Earthquake Networks Center: Linwei and — Send a few short text messages microblog to free up communi- Huazhou districts likely to be hardest hit... Haiyan took the stairs rather than calling family and cation networks for rescue team two at a time. friends. You are more more likely to and emergency calls. 40 41 Haiyan gave up after four tries to The driver knew another route, We can try it, but I doubt Grandma’s phone and three to her further to the south and longer. we’ll get through. It’s going brother-in-law Jianjun. She messaged to be dark soon. Jianguo that she was okay. Jianguo responded immediately...

On my way. There in 10 hours.

Haiyan did a quick mental calculation, trying not to cry Please. My kids are in Linwei and in front of a stranger. Even at I can’t reach them. Can you take me? a time like this, she had to Rumble ~ watch expenses. Paying for her father in-law’s medical Rumble ~ treatments had put them deep into debt. After another two hours of driving They threaded slowly through the heavy traffic in slowly past damaged buildings south Xi’an. The power outage had darkened the and avoiding debris in the road, a traffic signals, bringing traffic to a near-standstill. barricade appeared in the motor- cycle’s headlight. Everyone else will be on the back roads with us. A landslide came down Yeah, if you buy onto the expressway. the petrol. And they have to inspect the bridges. They’re not letting anyone on.

Rumble ~ They made it as far as Yanshang, where they came to a makeshift checkpoint as expected. A soldier turned them back.

The road is completely buried Rumble ~ by landslides up ahead. We don’t know when we can reopen it. I’m sorry. HOMECOMING

42 43 The power was back on, and it seemed Can you please let us pass? This road is closed. Thanks for trying so Sure! Message me everyone decided it was safe enough She lives up on top of the I have orders not to let hard to help me get the time you want to to go inside for the night. Good thing, tableland and needs to get any civilians through, home today. Could go … and stay safe home to her children. especially at night. you take me again tonight. because it was starting to rain. early tomorrow morning? Please?

Please, sir, my children and mother-in-law are up there and I can’t reach them. I’ve called and called. Please.

It’s not safe to drive it at We have to go back to Xi’an night, ma’am. The road has tonight. If I’m feeling lucky, cracks everywhere and we can try again tomorrow. She dropped her bag on the parts of walls and power apartment floor, plugged in her lines fell down into it. phone, and called Jianguo.

And there are some unstable sections. We aren’t even permitted to drive it after dark.

After several hours struggling to The road to Weinan is get back to Xi’an, Haiyan wearily closed. I can only go back got off the back of the bike in to Xi’an. My phone is front of her apartment. going to die.

Be safe. Call me soon. HOMECOMING

Okay.

44 45 CHAPTER 8 On the G40, a seemingly unending line of heavy transports streamed past, bearing soldiers and relief The worst earthquake in Waiting for supplies bound for the earthquake zone. Over ten China’s entire history happened here in Weinan in 1556. There TIME years ago, Jianguo’s younger brother Jianjun was on 05:30 the morning after the earthquake was a smaller but still strong a transport like that, headed for the areas hit by the one in 1568 (approximately M7). Morning to Come PLACE South of Xi’an 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Watching them, Jianjun’s Get ready. words came rushing back to Haiyan’s mind.

The best thing is to make your house earthquake-resistant. The army can’t help if your house falls down and kills you. Haiyan remembered Jianjun telling them these things many times. Had they listened? No, not really. And they had not done anything to strengthen the old house, despite Jianjun telling them it could be done inexpensively. There was always something more urgent.

Haiyan rose before dawn to meet Jianguo at a petrol station beside the G40 expressway southeast of Xi’an, as they had planned the night before. But they would listen now, Haiyan resolved. Actually, she was quite The driver and Haiyan waved goodbye to sorry that they had not each other at the petrol station.. taken Jianjun’s advice seriously before the Thank you, thank you Hope your kids earthquake. are okay. so much! Please take care of yourself. Bye-Bye. A small truck in the long line parted from the stream and pulled off at the station. In a moment, Jianguo was there. Neither spoke for a long minute. HOMECOMING

46 47 CHAPTER 9 Massive cracks had opened as Zhao’s brother was coming to take Mr. Zhao and Mr. Ma to their village in land near the riverbanks slid to- north Linwei, across the Wei River. It would be a long journey because they ward the river. This damaged the had to go around to the east and north to avoid closed-off bridges, across Ma and Pa are Back! roads up to the bridges. or near the Wei River, in the areas most affected by the earthquake. TIME 10:50 the day after the earthquake The G30 expressway was closed just east of Xi’an so that engineers PLACE Xingfu Village, atop the Weinan could inspect the Bahe bridge. tableland in Linwei District Zhou’s and Ma’s families had been outside during the earthquake and were okay. But there was damage to the houses, and the ground had After four long hours, the truck rolled to settled unevenly in places. a stop in the lane outside their house, and Haiyan jumped out.

With the truck refueled, Jianguo and colleagues Then, Jianguo and Haiyan drove back along the G40 wished each other well. eastward, heading for home. All the best! Goodbye!

Xiaoshuai! Xiaomei! Ma! Xiaoshuai!

Let’s go home.

Xiaomei!

Past Houzhen, on the south side of the hills, they saw a checkpoint ahead. Haiyan’s Our kids and my mother are over there. We came as Ma! countenance dropped. quickly as we could. You live in the tableland?

I’ll talk us through. Yes. Yes. We’re here!

HOMECOMING Drive slowly. Some small rocks might still be in the road from last night’s aftershocks. There is a lot of damage on the other side. Watch out for Everything was completely still. downed power lines and debris in the road.

48 49 Haiyan and Jianguo dashed around to the back of the house, and Haiyan couldn’t Ma! Pa! saw the gaping hole in the back corner. It appeared there had been breathe for a a rescue of some sort – bricks were piled in odd spots, and boards of moment. Brrrmm ~ different lengths and sizes lay about. Someone had been underneath Brrrmm ~ all those bricks. Brrrmm ~ Xiaomei heard the motor of a truck and familiar voices.

Both children shot out of the courtyard. Xiaoshuai, it’s Ma and Pa! You came! They are going to be okay. They Both of you! are going to be okay, Haiyan. Maybe they’re at the Wang or Zhang house. Let’s go.

Ma! Pa!

My children are little heroes! And You came all the I wish I could have helped ... I came as way from Shanghai! soon as I could, right from the jobsite. I wish you were here It takes 14 hours to drive all that way. yesterday to help rescue people.

Jianguo and Haiyan arrived I know you must have been so worried, but Your Ma may have been at the elder Mr. Zhang’s Xiaoshuai and Xiaomei are safe! I sent them to transferred, to a larger house first. Whenever stay last night with great-uncle. I am sorry to say hospital, but I'm not sure. Mr. Zhang and I anything major happened, that your Ma was badly injured, and I sent her to had to take a huge people gathered there. the nearest township-level hospital. pile of bricks off of Grandma’s leg... Oh, thank goodness, my children are safe!

I tried to come all yesterday afternoon and evening... Now we’re here together, and more Her leg was important, you both are safe! broken! Xiaomei After hearing this ran to get help. HOMECOMING news, Haiyan and And now we’re going to all go together and Jianguo rushed to the see Grandma. home of Jianguo’s great-uncle. 50 51 CHAPTER 10

Two of the women died of You have two options: wait ... or go to Wei Min Hospital in their injuries on the way. In the four hours for the drivers to hopes that your mother is Looking for Grandma chaos yesterday, there was arrive with information... one of the survivors. TIME 12:00 the day after the earthquake some confusion about their names, so we are not After a quick discussion, Jianguo in the Hospital PLACE A local township-level hospital on completely sure which ones. and Haiyan decided to drive to the Weinan tableland Xi’an immediately.

Jianguo and his family arrived at We can make an enquiry for you. Our the township-level hospital where mobile tower is still out of service, so we Grandma was sent the day before. are relying on the military’s system. We can only send essential communications...

because they are also almost over-loaded due Grandma Zhao and other to all the rescue and relief seriously injured patients were communications. The streets around the hospital were so crowded driven out in a small convoy late that Jianguo finally just let them out while he looked yesterday evening. for a place to park the truck. TIME 18:30 the day after the earthquake They took the road to the south, and we know they passed the checkpoint at PLACE Wei Min Hospital in Xi’an Houzhen. They made it out to Xi’an, but we don’t have information yet on which hospital they went to.

Xiaoshuai, keep up! After a very long I have some 15 minutes... news.

Six patients with very serious injuries were taken to Xi’an, to Wei Min Hospital. Some of them were too weak to speak. HOMECOMING Pulling a tired Xiaomei by the hand behind her, Haiyan wove through the crowd toward the information desk set up in front of the hospital. 52 53 Not knowing what she would hear, Haiyan left Finally making it to the desk, she Xiaoshuai kept praying silently that Grand- A nurse’s call broke into Xiaoshuai and Xiaomei by a parking lot sign, safely gave Grandma’s name to the ma would be okay, especially after she Xiaoshuai’s thoughts. out of earshot of the information desk, young woman working there. was not in the ICU. Frustratingly, it seemed with strict instructions not to move. all he could do today was wait, ride in the truck, and wait some more...

Zhao Mei’s family, please come this way.

Zhao Mei. I don’t see that name here on either the inpatient or the other lists. Are you sure she was brought here?

The nurse led them down a hall and to a small room.

Grandma!

Yes, last night from Linwei District of Weinan city, up on the tableland. There were six badly injured elderly people, five women, one man. They were unsure of some names. Two didn’t survive the trip. Let me check again, there should be some information for a group that size.

HOMECOMING Two women from this group are in the ICU, and one is in Trauma. I’ll get a volunteer to take In the file it says there is some you up. I hope one of them is uncertainty about their names. your mother-in-law.

54 55 CHAPTER 11 Xiaoshuai and Xiaomei went to Grandma’s room. I’m very proud of both of you. It seems you both were listening Uncle Jianjun’s New to your Uncle Jianjun’s TIME One week after the earthquake earthquake stories after all. Earthquake Story PLACE Wei Min Hospital in Xi’an He has even more stories to tell, Grandma.

Your Grandma has been telling me all about her young heroes.

I just did what anybody would I talked to him on the phone do for their grandma, and it was yesterday and he was helping to Xiaomei who ran so fast put Weinan city back together again. to bring helpers back. He’s working 18 hours a day.

Uncle was telling me that there was lots of damage in urban Linwei. They had to dig people out of the rubble, just like in 2008!

But Uncle didn’t have Uncle said the power was to dig them out. out then, they had to get a generator to run the lights at night so they could see.

He added quickly, not In another week or so, your wanting to worry her. Grandma can move to a rehabilitation facility, where she will stay for at least three months and learn to walk again. Uncle also said, during the first It was a small miracle that the That’s a very impressive several days, they didn’t have doctors saved her leg. report, Xiaoshuai. Soon any water and couldn’t even call you’ll be telling some of your anybody about it because their own earthquake stories. HOMECOMING phones weren’t working. Some- body had to go and find water and find generators and fuel. And they’re still clearing rubble out of the streets. Even yesterday. 56 57 CHAPTER 12 So as not to worry the boy, Uncle Jianjun had not told Xiaoshuai that he, as a veteran with experience saving trapped people in the Homemade 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, did TIME Two weeks after the earthquake in fact need to rescue people. And he played a prominent role. Chicken Soup PLACE Wei Min Hospital in Xi’an

You look like you’re recovering very well. We were so worried about you! Zhao Juan, Grandma’s younger sister who lived in the mountains of rural Huazhou district, and her daughter Ying, living in urban Huazhou, Shortly after the shaking stopped, Jianguo quickly came to the hospital to visit organized a volunteer rescue team and rushed Grandma, with a thermos of to the hardest hit area. It was filled with old, homemade chicken soup. damaged buildings... Now that the G30 expressway and the railways were open again, they were able to travel from Ying’s apartment to see Grandma.

I’m so glad you could come all this way!

Soldiers and professional rescuers from the Auntie, we brought military, government, and civilian rescue teams How are you? you some chicken soup How is your house? arrived in Weinan quickly and saved many lives. from home. HOMECOMING Local people with relevant training played impressive roles, and as a result had been able to save even more people, by acting immediately after the shaking stopped. 58 59 EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE TIPS My mountain home has a lot of cracks now. Fortunately, I was outside when the earthquake struck. I dare not live in the house, Learn Earthquake Safety though, so I am staying with Ying for now.

Protect yourself and your PROTECT AGAINST INDOOR EARTHQUAKE DANGERS family against indoor earthquake dangers ✔ ✔ ✔

Yes, my apartment wasn’t damaged but the — Fasten or secure all — Remove or secure — Remove heavy or power was out. furniture (such as heavy hanging large objects from bookcase, wardrobe objects on walls and high places; other- and cupboard) that ceilings, such as wise they can fall can topple over baskets containing And a few things in the kitchen and living room produce and grains fell down and broke. Such a mess! Luckily, no one ✔ ✔ ✔ was hurt by them. Buildings should have seismic features

Grandma took all this in, a Participate in disaster worried look on her face. prevention and mitigation drills or safety — Secure inflamma- — Check and keep — Properly handle education and training bles and explosives, gas stoves / cookers, unburied wires hot-water containers, gas pipelines, (open wires) and heating appliances and liquefied gas (electric stoves, coal tanks safe stoves, etc.)

LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY SAFER

I can see we're One of the most important ways to and structural columns, make rooms Primary and middle schools, working worrying you, Mei. keep yourself and your family safe smaller, consult local earthquake units/organizations, and communities We will be fine. Don’t should carry out disaster reduction worry about us. is to live in an earthquake-resistant authorities when necessary, and hire HOMECOMING house. When building your own masons who have participated in the drills, safety or disaster education and Some of my neighbors’ house, please take proper earth- "Skill Training Project for Rural training, or other preparedness activities every year. Actively participate houses had even more quake resistant measures, such as to Construction Workers on Earthquake- cracks than mine. in these efforts, so you are ready to build the walls first with ring beams Resistant Buildings" programme. respond to a possible future disaster. 60 61 CHAPTER 13

And we can get a standard plan set and a And what if another earthquake happens Building an Earthquake- grant from the Municipality, IF we agree to in the future? Or a fire or something? let them inspect and make sure it’s strong We should have a plan and one of those TIME One month later enough for earthquakes. We can do it. go-bags if we have to evacuate quickly. Resistant House PLACE The village shelter, atop a tableland Let’s think about it of Linwei District of Weinan some more. But I think we should try.

We are NOT going to live in that kind Or at night when they were of unsafe brick house again! all inside? It’s just too risky. What would have happened if the earthquake was a little stronger?

Yes, I agree. We could all be better prepared, and take part in some of those I just don’t see any other way that makes sense training and response exercises that for our family. I don’t think those shelters Jianjun is always telling us about. are meant to last more than a few years.

I put these old bricks on Taobao. They’re a hundred years old. Someone will want them.

In the days that followed, the whole family came back as they had time, to work hard to clear debris and salvage what they I agree. But we can’t afford one of could from the old house. those apartments I’m building.

In another two weekends, the old house would be completely cleared, and they could start Recently, foreman Guo building the new earthquake-resistant one. If had gotten him a job with his they all worked very hard and got a little help cousin’s construction company from Jianguo’s construction crew, they could doing rebuilding work in Weinan. finish the new house by the time Grandma was ready to come home.

Why don’t we rebuild a good house ourselves? You know how to build things. HOMECOMING

62 63 CHAPTER 14

No, Xiaomei. Longing to They can’t. TIME Three months later They can’t? Why? Don’t Go Back to School PLACE At great-uncle’s house, they know how to fix it? atop the Weinan tableland

No, it had too much damage just to patch it. Everyone wants you and your classmates to be safe, so the When can I go back to a real school, government is building a new school. Ma? It’s been a whole month of being in those hot port-a-cabins!

But I liked my old school. I don’t want a different one! Build back better?

Xiaomei, they will build back even better than the old one. All your teachers and classmates will be there, and everyone will be safer. But why? Can’t they just patch the cracks like Uncle Jianjun did for great-uncle’s house?

The new school will be specially designed to be very earthquake- resistant. It takes time to build back better. Let’s be patient.

HOMECOMING Not yet, Xiaomei. They’re building a new school. Think how nice it will be. And when has my daughter ever complained about going to school?

64 65 CHAPTER 15 Being together as a family is Xiaoshuai, Xiaomei, your Ma more important than anything, A Meal Together and I have something important even gold. And we will to tell you. I am not going back all live here, together. TIME Four months later to Shanghai. PLACE Xingfu village, atop the Weinan tableland in Linwei District And, your mother took a new job in the new Linwei government program. This was the first She doesn’t need to go to meal Grandma Xi’an anymore. prepared for Here’s the last bowl, her family in this Jianguo. new house.

Jianguo carried the steaming bowl of Saozi mian and set it gently on a lovely old table that Grandpa Eat, eat! made years ago. Jianguo had pulled it from the rubble, and Haiyan lovingly refinished it. All the time? I won’t have anyone starving in this house.

Haiyan drank in the wonder Still the best. on her children’s faces.

Yes, all the time.

Mmm-hmm... HOMECOMING

66 67 Yes, all the time. HOMECOMING

68 A story about how a strong A story about how a strong earthquake affects a family earthquake affects a family with “left-behind” children with “left-behind” children Version for the General Public HOMECOMING Version for the General Public HOME This hypothetical scenario will help you understand the specific consequences of a and Relief in China in the New Era New the in China in Relief and Mitigation Prevention, Disaster for Concept New damaging earthquake and how TIPS FOR DISASTER New Concept for Disaster

and more … (Version for the General Public)