Analysis of consequences and Civil Protection activities in the Lorca earthquake (Murcia): Pre-emergency, Emergency and Post emergency

Abstract

This article aims to provide a summary of the actions taken by Civil Protection Organizations, after the earthquakes that occurred in Lorca, May 2011, in order to minimize damage to people and property. With this aim, measures that arise from the functions of Civil Protection were applied (Anticipation,Prevention, Planning, Intervention and Normalization) as defined in the basic legislation: Civil Protection Act 2/1985 of January 21 and Royal Decree 407/1992 of 24 April, approving the Basic Rule of Civil Protection. Specifically, two plans were applied this time: The State Civil Protection Plan to the Seismic Risk and the Civil Protection Special Plan to the Seismic Risk - Region of Murcia (SISMIMUR). According to these plans two meetings of the State Coordinating Committee were called on May 11 and 12. The Integrated Operational Coordinating Committee (CECOPI) was convened on May 11 and dissolved on December 28, once the necessary actions to minimize damage and to provide means and resources to the emergency were completed. In summary, the earthquake caused 9 deaths, 324 injuries (3 serious, 49 required hospitalization, on May 23 six people were still hospitalized), thousands of people were housed in 4 temporary camps, one of which was maintained until the 30 October. The text summarizes the statistics of damaged buildings and the means that intervened in the emergency response. At present and in application of the "Royal Decree Law 6/2011 of 13 May by adopting urgent measures to repair damage caused by seismic movements that occurred on May 11, 2011 in Lorca, Murcia", 13.028 applications have been analyzed and 382,3 million euro’s have been released by the Insurance Compensation Consortium after analyzing more than 31.000 files, besides 10 months after the events the State has released 19.093.760,78€.