This research will develop an experimental system to observe and evaluate the post- earthquake behavior of individuals with three classes of disabilities - lower extremity, all extremities, and visual. Four groups (three groups of disabled persons and a non-disabled group) will be involved in the study. A static room will be set up to simulate the effect of earthquakes on the interior room objects and arrangements typically found in residential dwellings. After viewing an audio-visual tape showing earthquake shaking and effects, subjects will be asked to perform different safety-related tasks that would be carried out immediately after earthquake impact. The room simulator will be able to reflect the after-effects of two levels of earthquake shaking (low and high). One source of data on occupant behavior and performance will be video tapes of each subject's performance on the safety-related tasks. An attempt will be made to determine: a) Whether disabled persons differ from able-bodied persons in their ability to carry out self-protective tasks; b) Whether the type of disability is related to task performance; c) How earthquake intensity affects occupants' ability to take self- protective measures. Analysis of variance techniques will be used to analyze the data. In addition to providing data for quantitative experimental analysis, the video tapes should be an important source of qualitative data on the coping behavior of building occupants following earthquakes.
