RE+-+The+3+Ps

The three Ps provide the key to trying to reduce the impact of earthquakes.
 * **Prediction** involves trying to forecast when an earthquake will happen. Japan tries to monitior earth tremors with a belief that warning can be given, but this did not happen at Kobe. Foreshocks do occur, but on a timescale useful to evcuation. Experts know where earthquakes are likely to happen, but struggle to establish when. Even looking at the time between earthquakesin a particular area does not seem to work. Similarly, experts struggle to pinoint exactly where along a plate margin they will occur. Animal behaviour has been used in the past
 * **Protection** invloves building to an appropriate standard and using designs to withstand movement.
 * **Preparation** involves hospitals, emergency services and inhabitants practising for major diasters, including having drills in public buildings and a code of practice so that people know what to do to reduce the impact and increase their chance of survival.

Video showing how to prepare for an earthquake - []

The diagram below shows how a building may be earthquake-proofed: