Initial Behavioral Response to a Rapid Onset Disaster: A Case Study of the October 1, 1987 Whittier Narrows Earthquake

This paper examines the immediate response behavior of Los Angeles County residents to the October 1, 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. Drawing on both social science disaster research literature and occupant behavior studies, the authors consider various situational, demographic and socioeconomic variables as potential correlates of actions taken by individuals and families in response to the earthquake which measured 5.9 in magnitude. Survey data were obtained from 690 residents of the county, 191 in a pre-designated high impact area which included the City of Whittier and the immediate area and 499 persons selected at random from the remainder of the county. It was discovered that taking cover in a doorway, hall or under furniture was the modal response for people who were at home or work as was pulling to the side of the road and stopping for those driving on a road or highway. Among those who were at home at 7:42 a.m. when the earthquake struck, fear, the presence and identity of other people and gender were found to be associated with response actions. At work, response behavior was related to fear, ethnicity and the presence of others. The impact of fear on the propensity to take cover both at work and at home appeared to be amplified by several vuriables some of which had no significant bivariate relationship with taking cover. The authors conclude that the findings of this study are consistent with the generalization from the literature that behavior in a rapid onset disaster is controlled, rational and adaptive.