Abstract

In a world of uncertainty, the only constant is change and rapid change produces a multitude of diverse facts. Risk is an integral

part of life. While no country in the world is entirely safe, the lack of capacity to limit the impact of hazards remains a major

burden for all countries and while the world has witnessed an exponential increase in human and material losses due to natural

disasters, there is a need to reverse trends in vulnerability to earthquakes. Available data prove that natural disasters from

earthquakes can cause considerable damages, with potentially severe effects to urban environment. Earthquakes cascade as

chaotic chain reactions through the natural and built environments; therefore, seismic hazard and risk are time-dependent

quantities. On the other hand, environmental degradation increases the intensity of natural disasters, and is often the factor that

transforms natural hazards, into a disaster. In World, earthquakes are responsible for 15% of total number of events, and 30% of

the total damages (Freeman, 2000). Last strong Vrancea earthquake on March 4, 1977 (Mw=7.4, h=95 km): 1578 dead and 11,321

injured, 36 ruined/destroyed blocks in Bucharest, 32,900 houses collapsed or severely damaged; 35,000 families homeless, tens of

thousands (64,000) of buildings damaged from Iaşi and Bacău to Craiova, many other damages and destructions in the industry

and economy; the downtown of Bacău was completely damaged etc. The goal of the paper is to enhance our capability to decrease

the effects of strong and deep Vrancea earthquakes on urban and built environment, especially in Moldavian area. The practical

goal is to enable new geo-technologies for reducing risk and improving community resilience. Specific fundamental and applied

researches were developed last years by National Institute for Earth Physics sustained by national legislation and regulations as

well as European Programs: FP-7, Cross-Border etc. The priority of protecting the environment is emphasized. This knowledge

can be very fruitfully used by civil engineers in the design of new seismic resistant constructions and in the reinforcement of the

existing built environment, and, therefore, supply a particularly powerful tool for the prevention aspects of Civil Defense.