The Public Response To The 19 September 1985 Mexico City Earthquake

In discussions of the social response to earthquake, there are often two somewhat contradictory concerns. The first concern is often cast in terms of seeing earthquake “victims” as being victims, persons, who need the help of others. Such assumptions about the passivity of victims often lead to discussions of the need for massive external manpower needs to assist earthquake victims. On the other hand, consistent, but not systematic significant source of manpower needs in such disasters. That is, that much of the search and rescue and much of the immediate response to disaster is carried out by “victims” themselves, rather than by “organized” search and rescue or relief agencies, which often take some time to mobilize for action