How to Handle Prefabricated Houses During Earthquakes

Prefabricated houses should be handled scientifically during earthquakes based on emergency response, emergency disposal, and emergency support measures, while also assessing the seismic performance of the houses in advance.

I. Emergency Response
After an earthquake warning is issued, an emergency plan should be activated immediately:

1. Personnel Evacuation and Hazard Source Control: Organize personnel to evacuate quickly to open areas or sturdy buildings, shut off gas and power sources, and cut off water and electricity supplies to avoid secondary disasters.
2. Preliminary Disaster Assessment: After an earthquake occurs, rescue teams should conduct disaster investigations as soon as possible, focusing on inspecting structural damage to prefabricated houses, such as wall cracks and loose connection nodes, and immediately cordon off houses at risk of collapse.
3. Information Reporting: Promptly report the affected area, casualties, and house damage to higher authorities to provide a basis for subsequent rescue decisions.

II. Emergency Disposal

1. Personnel Relocation and Rescue:
   • Temporarily relocate affected people, prioritizing the provision of food, drinking water, and medical supplies, and set up emergency tents or activate shelters.
   • Rescue teams should search for trapped individuals, focusing on narrow spaces formed by the collapse of prefabricated houses, and use life detectors and other equipment to improve rescue efficiency.
2. House Safety Measures:
   • For houses with minor damage, use temporary supports (such as steel pipe brackets) to reinforce connection nodes and prevent further structural deterioration.
   • For severely damaged houses or those at risk of collapse, immediate demolition is required to eliminate hazards and avoid secondary injuries.
3. Public Opinion and Information Management: Release earthquake information, rescue progress, and safety tips through official channels in a timely manner, respond to social concerns, and avoid the spread of rumors.

III. Emergency Support

1. Material Reserves: Prepare emergency materials such as tents, folding beds, and first-aid kits in advance, and establish a dynamic replenishment mechanism to ensure basic living needs within 72 hours after a disaster.
2. Personnel Training: Regularly organize emergency team drills to master the structural characteristics and rescue techniques of prefabricated houses and improve rapid response capabilities.
3. Communication Support: Equip with satellite phones, emergency broadcasts, and other equipment to ensure the transmission of critical information even in the event of power and network outages.

IV. Seismic Performance Assessment
The seismic capacity of prefabricated houses should be determined through professional testing. It is recommended to entrust a third-party organization to assess the house structure, connection nodes, and foundation stability and issue a test report. For houses that do not meet seismic standards, reinforcement and renovation (such as adding seismic brackets and strengthening connection nodes) or reconstruction are required.