Information:
Wasatch Front is in Utah, U.S.
Intensity (Lambda) = 1 earthquake every 350 years
Length (u) = life expectancy in Utah is 80 years / earthquake interval
(“"Utah Life Expectancy")
= 80 / 350
= 1/4.375 = 0.2286
Problem:
The problem is: What is the probability of experiencing an earthquake within the Utah lifetime of 80 years?
P (x=1, u=0.2286) = e (−0.2286) * (0.2286)1 1!
= 0.796 * 0.182 1
= 0.182
("Poisson Distribution")
The probability is 18.2% which means that anyone just born and would be staying in Utah would have this chance to experience a major earthquake along the Wasatch Front.
Which kinds of businesses or organizations should spend resources to prepare for an earthquake?
The first kind includes those who build and manager structures which if demolished by an earthquake, would cost thousands of lives and injuries. These are the structures that normally house a multitude of people at any one time. These private businesses would be the development and management of high-rise buildings, stadiums, tourist attractions, churches, theatres and hospitals. As an organization, the government would also play the same role for its buildings and mass transportation infrastructure such as the highways, bridges and dams.
The second group would be organizations who can do life and property recovery and security. These would be the hospitals and clinics and fire departments who can save lives and property. It would also include the law enforcement agencies and private calamity readiness groups. They would mostly need vehicles, supplies, weapons and communications equipment to preserve life, property and peace and order right after the earthquake.
The third kind would be those that would immediately affect the life support of people who would survive such an earthquake. These would primarily be the public utilities for water, gas and electricity. Companies such as major retailers store large amounts of food which can be made immediately available. Their warehouses must be built to withstand major earthquakes.
The fourth group would be companies that would facilitate coordination of people to recover from the calamity. These would be mass communication companies for telephones, television, radio, newspaper and the internet.
Works Cited
"Poisson Distribution". Stat Trek, n.d. Web. 13 July 2016. <http://stattrek.com/probability-distributions/poisson.aspx>.
"Utah Life Expectancy". World Life Expectancy, n.d. Web. 13 July 2016. <http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/usa/utah-life-expectancy>.
