Risk and Reward in Crisis Response

摘要

Late March 2009, seismic activity alarmed residents in L'Aquila, Italy. Six scientists and a seismic specialist from Italy's civil protection agency performed a special risk inspection of the area on March 31, 2009 and conveyed to the residents that they considered a severe seismic event unlikely. On April 6, 2009, a large earthquake struck L'Aquila, Italy killing 309 (including an unborn infant) and destroying the center of the town of L'Aquila as well as several surrounding towns. The inspection team were then charged and on October 22, 2012 were convicted of manslaughter based on their failing to adequately predict and advise the public on the risk of seismic activity in the L'Aquila, Italy region in the week prior to the April 6, 2009, earthquake (Nadeau, 2012).