Carlisle is not prepared for a disaster of any magnitude above a minor one. period. The city has not faced much in the way of natural disaster- the closest we have come is Hurricane Sandy last year, and we escaped with minor damage. Even an event similar to the earthquake in Washington D.C. a few years ago could be catastrophic to the region if the epicenter is shallow enough.
From what we have learned of how to weather a major earthquake, the biggest initial problem would be construction. Almost every building is “western style”, with brick and mortar construction, and relatively light building materials. Most of these would collapse or be partially destroyed with even mild shaking. Because Carlisle buildings are so closely spaced together, a domino-chain toppling effect could also be a problem.
In terms of evacuation, I have not heard of any procedure for any kind of natural disaster. Be it storm, earthquake, or other crisis, the status quo seems to be that everyone is responsible for fending for themselves, after which the police and emergency services will step in. Carlisle becomes relatively rural as you move further out, so it may be hard for some clean up and emergency crews to help those on the back roads or further out into the countryside.
As for damage, anything above a small event would most likely cause large scale damage, especially in regard to the “main streets” of Carlisle, where buildings would collapse on one another. Casualties could range from minimal to great, depending on the time of day and intensity.
