1. Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA

4. S = STRENGTHS P = PROBLEMS O = OPPORTUNITIES T = THREATS

5. The "triangle of life" theory is based on the hypothesis that there will be a Survivable Void Space in the rubble pile.

6. 1) BUILDING COLLAPSE IS NOT COMMON; IT IS RARE FOR ANY BUILDING THAT IS SITED AND CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF A MODERN BUILDING CODE

7. 2) WHEN A BUILDING COLLAPSES, ALL FURNITURE PROVIDING THE “DUCK, COVER, AND HOLD” SANCTUARY IS ALSO CRUSHED.

8. 3) BUILDING RESIDENTS KNOW APRIORI HOW THEIR BUILDING WILL COLLAPSE IN ALL LIKELY EARTHQUAKE-COLLAPSE- HAZARD SCENARIOS.

9. 4) BUILDING RESIDENTS KNOW APRIORI WHERE THE VOID SPACES WILL BE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE TRAPPED IN THE BUILDING WHERE THEY RESIDE.

10. 5) BECAUSE BUILDING RESIDENTS KNOW APRIORI WHERE THE VOID SPACES WILL BE, THEY CAN MOVE TO THEM DURING THE 20 TO 60 SECONDS OF STRONG GROUND SHAKING.

11. IF CORRECT, LIVES WILL BE SAVED BY APRIORI KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THE BUILDING WILL RESPOND TO STRONG GROUND SHAKING AND THE LOCATION OF THE SURVIVABLE VOID SPACES IN THE RIBBLE PILE.

12. IF THE ASSUMPTIONS ARE WRONG, MORE INJURIES AND DEATHS WILL HAPPEN THAN IF THE “DUCK, COVER, AND HOLD” PRACTICE IS CONTINUED.

13. 1) EARTHQUAKES OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. 2) GROUND SHAKING CAN BE SO VIOLENT THAT THE VICTIM USUALLY CAN NOT RUN, WALK, OR CRAWL.

14. 3) STUDIES OF PAST EARTH- QUAKES INDICATE THAT FALLING AND FLYING OBJECTS ARE A MORE LIKELY CAUSE OF INJURIES AND DEATHS THAN BEING TRAPPED UNDER A DESK IN A COLLAPSED BUILDING.

15. 4) STUDIES SHOW THAT COUNTRIES THAT ADOPT AND ENFORCE THE SEISMIC DESIGN PROVISIONS OF MODERN BUILDING CODES EXPERIENCE FEW, IF ANY, BUILDING COLLAPSES.

16. 1) THE BASIS FOR THE “TRIANGLE OF LIFE” THEORY IS FLAWED. 2) AT PRESENT, THE “DUCK, COVER, AND HOLD” PRACTICE HAS BEEN PROVEN AS THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE INJURIES AND DEATHS IN A COLLAPSE.