| What are the earthquake risks and preparedness plans for ten institutions of higher education in earthquake prone South Carolina? This study was designed to answer the above question through the following series of questions posed to administrators of ten institutions of higher education in South Carolina: To what extent are administrators in institutions of higher education in South Carolina aware of earthquakes and the risks of earthquakes in South Carolina? What programs, if any, are in place in these institutions to provide these administrators with a knowledge of earthquake preparation and response? If programs are not in place, what programs, if any, are planned? If programs are neither in place nor planned, what models can be used to develop programs at these institutions? Are college/university administrators interested in knowing preventive measures that can be designed and implemented at each institution. Five institutions of higher education were located inside the meizoseismal zone of the Charleston, South Carolina, 1886 earthquake and five were located outside the meizoseismal zone, but in areas of South Carolina where earthquakes have occurred.; Twenty administrators, two from each institution, responded to the questionnaire. The questionnaire completed by the administrators revealed (1) the awareness level of the 1886 earthquake was 20% higher for administrators from the Charleston, South Carolina area than for the administrators of institutions outside the Charleston area, (2) only 10% of the institutions indicated that earthquakes specifically were included in their comprehensive emergency plans at present, (3) all twenty administrators expressed interest in including earthquake preparedness planning, especially since Hurricane Hugo showed areas where improvement in emergency preparedness could be made.; An overview of earthquake history in South Carolina, pre-1886, effects of the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina earthquake, and a brief history of the institutions of higher education involved in the study, the effects of Hurricane Hugo and the Loma Prieta earthquake, the current seismicity in lower South Carolina, and a generic plan for earthquake preparedness for institutions of higher education are all included in this thesis. |
