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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

November 2004 Volume 7 - Number 2

Business Update...

The earthquake in central Italy: September 1997

By Sergio De Cosmo

It was September 26, 1997, at 2:30 am, when a strong tremor – grade VIII on the Mercalli Intensity scale – lasted for eighteen seconds and woke up most of the people living in central Italy, including myself. That earthquake did not cause victims, but was a premonition of what would happen shortly after, in a more dramatic and devastating manner.

At 11:40 am that same morning, I was working in my office on the first floor of a mechanical factory where 400 people work every day. It all happened suddenly and unexpectedly, in what seemed to be an endless 30 seconds. The earth shook rapidly and the floor of my office was moving like a stormy sea. It was difficult to keep balance and an incredible rumble was raging over the shrieks of terror of the employees. Earthquakes catch you by surprise and often, unprepared.

Roof panels were falling down, breaking up in thousands of pieces, glass was shaking and ready to explode; books, folders, and a multitude of other materials was falling to the ground. It is difficult to think rationally during these moments, but what you do could decide your future. I am not sure what I was thinking or if I was able to think at all. I probably did not realize that it was an earthquake. Sometimes the brain is slower than the instinct, and so driven by it, I took refuge under a desk until the earthquake ended.

Suddenly, that tremendous noise stopped and there ruled a complete silence. I looked around the office and nobody was there. I was alone. They had jumped out of the window during the earthquake. So, I decided to leave the building using the same technique in order to evacuate ASAP.

That brief earthquake, which was IX on the Mercalli scale, sowed death and destruction in a vast area of the Umbria and Marche regions. Eleven people died, many were injured, and thousands were homeless. Damage was estimated in several hundred million Euros. The artistic patrimony reported considerable damages, including the famous Superior Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, where the collapse of a part of the vault killed four people and destroyed some paintings of the masters Cimabue and Giotto.

Fortunately, the factory I was working at reported only minimal damage to the structures, and nobody was injured. I remember clearly the fear and the worry on the face of many coworkers that were scared for the state of their families. The telephones did not work, the mobile phones did not have any signals, the power was out and the streets were packed with cars and people, making it impossible to drive anywhere. The most common feelings were confusion and anguish mixed with impotence.

Recounting that experience, I realize how important awareness, information, education, and training truly are. We need to know the risks we face in the area we live and how to deal with them when they become real and show themselves in all their devastating power. The public authorities play a key role, because with extensive media campaigns and with specific programs it is possible to educate the population and reduce the impact of a disaster.