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Looking for Survivors 
One of the first and most important things that 
happens after a disaster is the search for survivors. How 
people search depends on the damage that has been done. 
Following an earthquake, hundreds or even thousands of 
people may be trapped underneath the rubble of collapsed 
buildings and other structures. 
An earthquake near San Francisco in 1989 caused 
several bridges and overpasses to collapse, killing some 
people and trapping others in their cars. Rescue teams of 
doctors and firefighters arrived quickly to free survivors and 
give them the medical help they needed. 
People use whatever means are available to rescue 
trapped survivors. In November 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz 
volcano in Colombia erupted, sending tons of hot mud 
and water sliding down the mountainside and destroying 
the small town of Armero that lay below. Some people 
survived the eruption by climbing onto rooftops and into 
trees to avoid the deadly flow; others found themselves 
stuck in a soft, gooey mud that was deep and widespread. 
In many cases the best way to rescue survivors was to 
fly a helicopter close to the ground and then have rescuers 
lower themselves down to the trapped survivors. The 
rescuers could then get hold of the survivors and fly them 
away to get medical help. 
The mess created by a 
natural disaster can take 
weeks to clean up. 
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