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Vocabulary

 * Liquefaction:** The process when an earthquake turns loose soil into liquid mud.
 * Aftershock:** The second earthquake that comes after the first earthquake in the same place.
 * Tsunami:** A giant wave from an ocean that is caused by an earthquake underwater.
 * Base-isolated Building:** A building that is mounted on bearings to absorb the energy of an earthquake.

How Earthquakes Cause Damage

 * When a major earthquake strikes, it can cause lots of damage.
 * S waves can cause severe damage near the epicenter.
 * In coastal regions, giant waves pushed up by earthquakes can cause more damage.
 * Local Soil Conditions
 * When seismic waves move from dense and hard rock, to loosely packed soil, the transmit the energy to the soil.
 * The soil shakes more violently than the surrounding rock.
 * The thicker the soil, the more violent the shaking will be.
 * Liquefaction
 * Liquefaction occurs when the shaking of an earthquake turns soft soil into liquid mud.
 * Liquefaction is likely to occur where the soil is full of moisture.
 * Liquefaction can also trigger landslides.
 * Tsunamis
 * When an earthquake jolts the ocean floor, plate movement causes the ocean floor to rise slightly to push water out of its way.
 * If the earthquake is strong enough, the water that is displaced, the water forms a large waves that are called "tsunamis"
 * The tsunami grows into a mountain of water.

Making Buildings Safer

 * Most of the deaths and injuries caused by earthquakes result from damage to buildings or other kinds of structures.
 * To reduce the damage of the earthquakes, new buildings need to be made stronger and more flexible.
 * Older buildings need to be modified to be stronger and more stable.
 * Choice Of Location
 * The location of a building affects the type of damage it may suffer during a big earthquake.
 * If your house is built on steep slopes, your house would have a chance of having dangerous landslides during an earthquake.
 * People should avoid building structures near earthquake faults.
 * The farther a structure is from a fault, the less strong the shaking will be during an earthquake.
 * Construction Methods
 * The way in which a building or structure is constructed determines whether it can withstand an earthquake.
 * A fixed-base building is not shock-absorbing during an earthquake is happening.
 * A base-isolated building on the other hand will be shock-absorbing during an earthquake's shaking. That means that during an earthquake, it won't shake as much during an earthquake.

Protecting Yourself During an Earthquake

 * The main danger for yourself during an earthquake is from falling objects and flying glass and many more objects.
 * The best way to protect yourself is to drop cover and hold beneath a table with sturdy legs.
 * If you are outdoors, go to an open area that has no electrical objects, or trees that might fall.

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