There are a lot of myths surrounding earthquakes. Once upon a time, people thought that earthquakes were caused by the Gods getting angry. Thanks to science, we now know they're caused because of friction, caused when two of the Earth's massive tectonic plates slide up against one another. Here, we take a look at a few other ‘facts' which are a bit out of date.

You are safer if you stand under a doorframe. When the earthquake hits, that is. In a Hollywood film, people always seem to end up riding out earthquakes underneath door frames. This is only true if you happen to live in an unreinforced house, and these days, those are few and far between, especially in frequent quake zones. In real life, you're actually more likely to end up with a broken nose, because the door might be swinging wildly on its hinges. Better advice would be to hang onto a desk or another relatively solid piece of furniture.

Seismologists measure earthquakes with the Richter scale. This one hasn't been true for about thirty years now, so why it's still being taught in geography classes is something of a mystery. Journalists often use the Richter scale which is why it appears in the papers and on the news, but seismologists use the Moment of Magnitude scale (MMS). This is because the Richter scale becomes unreliable at distances of more than 600km from the epicentre, and so MMS was developed to replace it.

Natural disasters are tragedies resulting from otherwise extreme natural occurrences and are hardly ever human induced. Some of these natural disasters have been discovered to be amplified by human interference. An example is apparent in cases of floods and tsunamis that are as a result of shifts in the planes of the continental shelf of oceans and tremors. Global warming has been an issue of global debate and concern for over two decades now. One of the attendant consequences of global warming has been the rapid meltdown of ice in the arctic and Polar Regions of the earth. This has increased the volume of water in the ocean and an otherwise slight tremor in the ocean belt could prove devastating because of the increased volume of water.

Floods are natural disasters that are unavoidable by humans and so it is pertinent to put in place measures that aim at minimising the risks and destructions that is wrought on humans and the environment as a whole. These measures include evacuation, rescue and finding temporary shelter for victims that may be displaced.

In developed countries of the west, the first antidote to the perceived damages is the accurate weather forecast systems. With knowledge of an impending disaster beforehand, people are prepared emotionally and psychologically as they brace themselves for possible impact. The major advantage at this stage is that evacuation can be more orderly and hence, more effective. With weather forecasts, people can also minimise their losses as moveable and precious belongings could be rescued long before impact. There is enough sensitisation of the general public on how to handle these emergencies and what they need to do until rescue arrives.

Some are taught in practical terms how they can help rescuers to find them easily. There have been cases where engineers will manipulate dams to serve as hastening the recession of the flood by channeling existing drainages into the ocean.

Floods are usually caused by excessive volume of water finding its way onto dry land that leaves destruction in their wake. Nature has its drainage system just like we humans do. Some of these floods are as a result of the natural drainages- the rivers, streams, creeks, tributaries and the ocean- being overwhelmed by excessive volume of water than they could normally handle. When natural drainages are overwhelmed and overflow their banks to cause flooding, it is usually because of natural occurrences such as heavy and torrential rainfall and tropical storms; and hurricanes which are usually above the normal rainfall indices that these drainages can handle.

Environmental disasters are manmade and are tragic consequences of environmental degradation due to human actions and activities. Biologists and Ecologists have long discovered that the earth has always hung in a delicate and intricate balance that must be maintained if the equilibrium is not to be disturbed or altered completely. This delicate balance is governed by what we may call laws of nature which among other things reveal that there is an interdependence between all living creatures of which the human race is but a part. The present environment disasters are of grave concern and consequences that if left unresolved or unchecked, could prove fatal for the human race and indeed the whole planet's ecosystem.

The earth's core is an ocean of trapped energy or forces. These forces are sometimes released through cracks and faults within the earth's crust. The sudden release of these forces often through very tiny openings, result in the movement of a plate of the earth's crust against another resulting in tremors that are referred to as earthquakes.

Earthquakes are measured in magnitudes that portray the depth, strength and the area covered by the tremor. Some of these earthquakes or tremors last from a few seconds to several minutes in some extreme cases. The magnitude of the earthquake and the duration of the tremor determine the scale of destruction it will leave in its wake. Sometimes, earthquakes are accompanied by landslides in the ocean bed when the epicenter is offshore, resulting in huge powerful waves of the ocean referred to as tsunamis.

The existence of earthquakes in a specific place is a mystery to some people. Some wonder why certain natural disasters like earthquakes are happening in certain areas in the world. Others associate it to the curse of God among people. Superstitious belief by others is clearly refuted by the scientific reason which science and technology emphasize the reason of the earthquake event.

The seismic waves coming from the earth's crust which travels in the surface results to an earthquake. Many countries in the world belong to the pacific ring of fire experience the earthquake. This pacific ring of fire is a zone where large numbers of quake tremor and volcanic activities are active. Earthquakes like volcanic eruptions usually happen in the part within and near the Pacific Ocean. The movement of plate tectonic plates which is 40, 000 kilometers large in the Pacific Ocean also affects the series of volcanic belts, trenches and volcanic arcs. It is for this reason that countries within the circum-pacific seismic belt are always subject to an earthquake disaster. Almost 90% of the earthquake events happen in the ring of fire. The largest and the strongest earthquakes are about 80% occur on the same area. Alpide belt extending from Java going to Sumatra within Himalayas, out of the Atlantic and including Mediterranean is the seismic region of about 5% to 6% of earthquakes on which 17% of this is the world's largest earthquakes. Another important fact that you need to know is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which must be observed keenly by many seismologists because this is the third greatest prominent earth quake belt. This is a fact indicated in the ring of fire which is the direct outcome of the plate tectonics. This is where the real movement and crashes of lithospheric plates truly happening, making the earth's land layers move and smashed. The eastern part of the pacific ring of fire resulted to Cocos and Nazca Plate. Other plates like the South American Plate, Caribbean Plate, Pacific Juan de Fuca Plate and Northern American Plate are active plates that usually creating the earthquake in some countries within its bound of area. Some places which usually affected by the movement of these plates and suffer from earthquakes are South America, Central America, North America, Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, Tonga, Bougainville, Australia New Guinea, Sumatra, Mexico, Hawaii, Canada and other areas under the ring of fire.

Earthquakes are seismic events which are mostly caused by the natural phenomenon when seismic waves generate moving throughout the epicenter. This epicenter is the focal point in ground level; it directly goes above the hypocenter. Earthquakes may be due to volcanic eruptions in land or in the ocean but it can also be due to the breach of geologic faults and trenches.

The US Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Centre reveals data on the earthquakes that happened in 2010. It was the Solomon Islands during the first month of the year 2010 dated January 3rd on which despite a magnitude of 7.1, there were no casualties or death but many of the people became homeless. Then a day after the quake in the Solomon Islands, the Tajikistan was hit by an earthquake with a 5.1 magnitude which left 20, 000 people homeless. Then, Eureka, California also experienced a temblor of 6.5 magnitude right at the centre of Humboldt County, many were injured yet there was no death confirmed. On the 12th January of the same year, Haiti was greatly devastated by a 7.0 tremor that killed 230, 000 people and caused large numbers of homeless Haitians. Five days later, Drake Passage was struck of a temblor which started in the Shackleton Fracture Zone in a magnitude of 6.8. The next day, Illapel was hit by a 6.2 magnitude of earthquake yet there were no reported damages and deaths. Two more earthquakes in January struck with 6.1 and 6.8 magnitudes, these are Conception and Antofagasta Region, respectively.

In February 2010, Eureka, California was again stricken by an earthquake, this time with a much lower level of 6.0 magnitude compared to its previous month's quake. There were only minor injuries among the people and damages in properties. Good thing, there were no deaths. Then, after twenty three days, Ryukyu Islands caught a magnitude of 7.0 with a little damage. Chili got the worst on the very same day with 8.8 magnitude, more than 300 deaths, then a tsunami alert was raised among countries within the Rim of the Pacific. Salta felt the tremor of 6.3 earth quake magnitude, not related to the Chili. Two deaths were found after the quake. Then, Taiwan, Calama, Sumatra, Elazig of Turkey, Chile, Indonesia, Honshu, Biobío, New Ireland, Mindoro, and Andaman Islands were struct by the quake ranging a magnitude of 6.1 – 6.7 where nodeaths reported but only little injuries and damages.

Earthquakes which are commonly referred to as a seismic event can change, and affect, the lives and properties of many people once it has hit with a great magnitude. The initial rupture on the earth's point is known as the hypocenter but when it generates its seismic waves on the ground point level above the hypocenter, it is already there everything is affected due to the epicenter's rupture reaching the surface of land or bodies of water affecting all within the area of its epicenter up to the nearby places.

The Hispaniola Island which Haiti and the Dominican Republic shared is seismically active and has a history of harsh earthquakes. History would tell that even during French colony on Haiti's time earthquakes were recorded by Moreau de Saint-Méry, a French historian. He defined destruction done by an earthquake in 1751 through his writing that only one masonry building had not collapsed in Port-au-Prince. He further emphasized when he wrote that the whole city collapsed in 1770 Port-au-Prince earthquake. During May 7, 1842, there was an earthquake which Cap-Haïtien, other towns in the north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and the Sans-Souci Palace were destroyed. Then, a magnitude of 8.0 struck the Dominican Republic and shook Haiti on an earthquake last August4, 1946, which created a tsunami that killed 1,790 people.

Everyone can still recall the 2010 Haiti earthquake which made a great disaster after the residents of Haiti experienced a magnitude 7.0 from its epicentre near the town of Léogâne, roughly 25 km west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital on Tuesday of January 12, 2010. After 12 days, there were at least 52 aftershocks and the sad impact caused 3 million people to be affected and suffer in worst condition and food shortage. It was pronounced by the Haiti government that the tragic event led to an estimated 316, 000 death toll with 300, 000 injured plus 1 million homeless Haiti people. There were 250, 000 residences and 30, 000 commercial structures had collapsed and damaged severely by the catastrophic tremor .Different International agencies came to help and rescue the victims together with the distribution of relief goods and other humanitarian aid.

The physical environment of affected places was totally devastated and this composed of the major damage in Jacmel, Port-au-Prince and other port regions. Many remarkable landmark structures were notably damaged, Presidential Palace, the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral and , the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral is also ruined which even Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot and Micha Gaillard, an opposition leader were killed. Mission's Chief, Hédi Annabi was also killed along with many others when the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti has collapsed.

Earthquakes know no boundaries or limit to destroy houses, buildings, cars and other properties. They can hurt or kill anyone which includes you so you must be well-equipped with proper awareness and strategies to be strong and manage the existence of earthquake as it is a natural disaster.

If you are staying in a place where it is frequently visited by tremors, then you must be prepared any time of the day. Before an earthquake will occur, you need to get ready your first aid kit, reserve foods, water, extra batteries, emergency light and radio at home. Always have an available fire extinguisher, dry clothing and a good cabinet/table or any barrier which you can use if you will be trapped in time, the earthquake may occur. Secure all heavy objects by placing them in a lower place so that it won't fall during a quake. Anchor all heavy appliances, furniture and sideboard in the floor or at the wall of the house to prevent it in causing injuries and falling debris if the earthquake will take place. Convene with your family and take the best plan where to meet after an earthquake.

At times an earthquake will occur and you are indoors, drop immediately to the ground and cover with a good shield like a strong plywood, a tough table, or a piece of cabinet and stay calm while the uproar and shaking continues. If there is no available tool to be used during the quake, use your arms and cross it to cover your head, body and face. Go to the inside corner of the house and bend your body on it. You must stay away from breakable objects such as glasses, jars, jalousies, and other breakable materials. Hold on in your safe place until the shaking stops.

If you happen to be inside your bed room and the earthquake starts, don not panic but protect your body and head with pillows. You may go to the doorway and keep safe there until everything is finally over. Avoid changing your location from time to time to avoid many injuries. Be aware of you electricity connection and see to it you will be safe from it. If you are in a living room and the earthquake begin, better lie on the next to the sofa, heavy tool, or cabinet so that you will never be crushed by a wall and the heavy objects around you.

Never use the elevator if you are inside a building because you might be trapped when there are aftershocks. Then, if you are in a restaurant it is best suggested staying inside and hiding under the table. If you are outside during the earthquake, you can stay there but make sure you move away from falling buildings, street posts and electric wires. Be careful not to be hit by falling matters outside the house/building.