The Israeli security and military authorities are preparing for the possibility of a powerful earthquake that would cause mass casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure and property according to Haaretz newspaper.
Among options the authorities are examining is the building of a number of temporary residential compounds in various areas of the country that could hold more than one million evacuees for up to three years. These compounds would include community services like emergency clinics and temporary schools.
Israel’s war ministry recently requested information from suppliers on the feasibility of operating a wide-ranging absorption scheme for coping with an earthquake which indicates the scenarios the ministry is planning for.
The ministry has asked for information on residential compounds that can be erected within one to three months. The compounds must include infrastructure including access roads electricity water sewerage and firefighting services. The ministry is considering a series of such compounds that if needed could provide housing for 230000 families.
The ministry is also preparing for the possibility of a large number of evacuees needing medical care after an earthquake. The ministry also asked suppliers for information on erecting 200 prefabricated clinics that could serve 150000 people.
The ministry is also seeking information on erecting 200 additional structures to serve as police stations offices of government ministries and community centers that would also serve 150000 people.
The ministry believes that in the event of a devastating earthquake that has consequences that could last years there will be a need to build schools and preschools to be used for up to three years.
Last June the home front command conducted an exercise on responding to an earthquake which simulated the security establishment’s perception of the possible damage that could be caused in such an event. The exercise posited an earthquake of 7.1 on the Richter scale that caused thousands of deaths and the evacuation of 150000 people.
