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Earthquake Research at Parkfield, California, for 1993 and Beyond--Report of the NEPEC Working Group to Evaluate the Parkfield Earthquake Prediction Experiment
From the Summary: "During the past century, earthquakes of M ~ 6 have occurred with remarkable regularity on the San Andreas fault at Parkfield, California. Events occurred in 1857, 1881, 1901, 1922, 1934, and 1966. At least two of these events were preceded by large foreshocks and there is evidence for precursory creep of the shallow segment of the fault prior to the 1966 event. In 1984-1985, scientists developed and published a prediction, based on a model of 'characteristic' earthquakes, that the next M ~ 6 Parkfield event was expected in a time window centered on 1988, with 95% probability that the earthquake would occur by the end of 1992 [...]. Shortly after the publication of this prediction, with endorsement by the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council ('NEPEC'), the United States Geological Survey ('USGS') initiated the Parkfield Earthquake Prediction Experiment (the 'Experiment'). With additional support from the state of California, the Experiment took on a public services aspect, as well as a geophysical aspect. By late summer, 1992, the predicted event had not yet occurred. NEPEC chartered a Working Group to evaluate the Parkfield Earthquake Prediction Experiment. This group was asked a series of questions which are summarized below, along with the responses of this Working Group."
Geological Survey (U.S.)
1994
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2011 FEMA Central States Disaster and Earthquake Preparedness Survey Report
"The area within the Central United States (CUS) (i.e., Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee) known as the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) is at risk for experiencing a major earthquake. Although the CUS is not traditionally thought of as an earthquake-prone zone, the scientific community agrees that this area is a seismically active zone. To educate the residents of these states, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), with support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), conducted six months of outreach from December 2010 to May 2011. This outreach (collectively referred to as 'Earthquake Outreach') comprised several major initiatives, such as the anniversary of the 1811---1812 New Madrid earthquakes, the first Great Central U.S. ShakeOutTM and the 2011 National Level Exercise (NLE). The outreach from all these initiatives is collectively referred to as 'Earthquake Outreach' throughout this report. To measure the effectiveness of this outreach, to gauge residents' current preparedness behaviors and attitudes regarding the risk of experiencing an earthquake and to provide recommendations for increasing preparedness, FEMA's National Preparedness Assessment Division developed the 2011 FEMA Central States Disaster and Earthquake Preparedness Survey (2011 FEMA CUS Earthquake Survey). FEMA administered the 2011 FEMA CUS Earthquake Survey to 3,211 respondents from the CUS states through a telephone interview, asking respondents about the following areas of interest: [1] Perceptions of the likelihood of an earthquake; [2] Participation in earthquake preparedness drills and discussions about earthquake preparedness; [3] Preparedness for an earthquake; [4] Awareness of earthquake preparedness activities and events; and [5] Understanding of the protective actions to take during an earthquake."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2012-07
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Earthquakes: Risk, Monitoring, Notification, and Research [Updated June 19, 2008]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discusses the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) what it covers and needed improvements to the existing program infrastructure to better proactively address earthquake related hazards. "Given the potentially huge costs associated with a severe earthquake, an ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported programs aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes are an adequate response to the earthquake hazard. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They variously assess U.S. earthquake hazards, send notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congress established NEHRP in 1977, and its early focus was on research that would lead to an improved understanding of why earthquakes occur and to an ability to predict their occurrence precisely. Understanding has improved about why and where earthquakes occur; however, reliably predicting the precise date and time an earthquake will occur is not yet possible. Congress most recently reauthorized NEHRP in 2004 (P.L. 108-360) and authorized appropriations through FY2009. The 2004 reauthorization designated NIST as the lead agency to create better synergy among the agencies and improve the program. Congress may wish to determine whether the reorganized structure has yielded expected benefits for the program. Appropriations for NEHRP have not met levels authorized for the past four years, falling short by an average of 31% for FY2005 through FY2008. What effect funding at the levels enacted through FY2008 has had on the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and minimize losses after an earthquake occurs is not clear."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2008-06-19
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Fiscal Year 2010: Earthquake Consortia, Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW): Guidance and Application Kit
"The Federal Emergency Management Agency proposes to enter into a Cooperative Agreement for an estimated $75,000 with one Earthquake Consortia for the purposes of supporting nonprofit organizations which: deliver education and training to community and State officials; develop seismic policies and share information to promote programs intended to reduce earthquake-related losses; and reduce the loss of life, injuries, property losses, and social and economic disruption that results from all hazards. Natural hazards exist everywhere. Throughout its history, the United States (US) has experienced floods, wildfires, winter storms, landslides, windstorms, and earthquakes. But of all of these natural disasters, earthquakes pose one of the greatest threats to lives, property, and economy, not only to communities within the western and central US, but indirectly to the Nation as a whole. Under Public Law 95-124, as amended, Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). In 2008, NEHRP agencies engaged in the development of a strategic plan to guide NEHRP over the 2009-2013 timeframe."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-04
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Protecting Yourself while Responding to Earthquakes: Safety and Health Awareness for Responders to Earthquakes
"This training tool is an awareness-level health and safety resource for 'skilled support personnel' (SSP) who will participate in an earthquake response and cleanup. This tool will help workers understand at an awareness level: what an earthquake is, characteristics of an earthquake response, and how to identify and control hazards pertaining to the response and cleanup activities associated with an earthquake. Trainers may use this tool to aid in the development of an earthquake awareness level course or other awareness level materials (fact-sheets, table-top activities, etc.)."
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
2008-12
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Repair of Earthquake-Damaged Masonry Fireplace Chimneys, South Napa Earthquake Recovery Advisory
"The August 24, 2014 South Napa Earthquake has again served
as a reminder that masonry chimneys in wood‐frame dwellings
are extremely vulnerable to earthquake shaking. FEMA
assessment teams observed over 100 brick masonry chimneys
damaged in the South Napa Earthquake (Figures 1 and 2). Older,
unreinforced masonry chimneys with degraded mortar are
most vulnerable, but even masonry chimneys constructed
according to modern standards are susceptible to significant
damage. Collapses of previously damaged and reconstructed
chimneys were also observed. This Recovery Advisory recommends best practices for reconstruction of earthquake-damaged masonry chimneys in one- and two-family dwellings to minimize risk of damage in future earthquakes."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2015-01
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Interim Report on the Guatemalan Earthquake of 4 February 1976 and the Activities of the US Geological Survey Earthquake Investigation Team
This report provides a summary of the findings of the US Geological Survey (USGS) earthquake investigation team and summarizes some of the findings from the field investigations and office investigations related to this earthquake. The mission of the team was to investigate the geologic cause of the earthquake, the nature and extent of the earthquake damage, and the nature and severity of geologic and engineering hazards resulting from the earthquake and the ensuing aftershocks.
United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)
1976-03
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'M'w 6.0 South Napa Earthquake of August 24, 2014--Observations of Surface Faulting and Ground Deformation, with Recommendations for Improving Post-Earthquake Field Investigations
From the Document: "The 'M'w [moment magnitude] 6.0 South Napa earthquake of August 24, 2014, produced complex and extensive surface faulting and other ground deformation features. Following the event, geologists made more than 1,200 field observations at locations where tectonic faulting and ground failure produced visible deformation that fractured and disturbed the ground surface. At a few locations, large-scale, detailed, field-based maps of fault rupture and ground deformation were produced. The South Napa earthquake response was one of the first times when post-earthquake reconnaissance data were mostly collected and disseminated electronically. The advantages and opportunities these new methods bring to our research also pose new challenges to large-scale compilation efforts and demonstrate the value of developing guidelines and better standardization across the community to more optimally utilize developing technology in future post-earthquake investigations. Some suggestions for standardizing the collection and dissemination of post-earthquake field reconnaissance data are provided herein."
Geological Survey (U.S.)
Ponti, Daniel J.; Rosa, Carla M.; Blair, J. L. (James Luke)
2019
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Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research [August, 24, 2011]
"The United States faces the possibility of large economic losses from earthquake-damaged buildings and infrastructure. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has estimated that earthquakes cost the United States, on average, over $5 billion per year. California, Oregon, and Washington account for nearly $4.1 billion (77%) of the U.S. total estimated average annualized loss. California alone accounts for most of the estimated annualized earthquake losses for the nation. A single large earthquake, however, can cause far more damage than the average annual estimate. The 1994 Northridge (CA) earthquake caused as much as $26 billion (in 2005 dollars) in damage and was one of the costliest natural disasters to strike the United States. One study of the damage caused by a hypothetical magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault in southern California projected as many as 1,800 fatalities and more than $200 billion in economic losses. An issue for the 112th Congress is whether existing federally supported programs aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes are an adequate response to the earthquake hazard. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They variously assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program might revisit how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. Better coordination was a concern that led to changes to the program in legislation enacted in 2004 (P.L. 108-360)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2011-08-24
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Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research [September 2, 2011]
"The United States faces the possibility of large economic losses from earthquake-damaged buildings and infrastructure. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has estimated that earthquakes cost the United States, on average, over $5 billion per year. California, Oregon, and Washington account for nearly $4.1 billion (77%) of the U.S. total estimated average annualized loss. California alone accounts for most of the estimated annualized earthquake losses for the nation. A single large earthquake, however, can cause far more damage than the average annual estimate. The 1994 Northridge (CA) earthquake caused as much as $26 billion (in 2005 dollars) in damage and was one of the costliest natural disasters to strike the United States. One study of the damage caused by a hypothetical magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault in southern California projected as many as 1,800 fatalities and more than $200 billion in economic losses. An issue for the 112th Congress is whether existing federally supported programs aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes are an adequate response to the earthquake hazard. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They variously assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program might revisit how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. Better coordination was a concern that led to changes to the program in legislation enacted in 2004 (P.L. 108-360)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2011-09-02
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Earthquakes: Risk, Monitoring, Notification, and Research [Updated January 16, 2008]
"Given the potentially huge costs associated with a severe earthquake, an ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported programs aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes are an adequate response to the earthquake hazard. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They variously assess U.S. earthquake hazards, send notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congress established NEHRP in 1977, and its early focus was on research that would lead to an improved understanding of why earthquakes occur and to an ability to predict their occurrence precisely. Congress most recently reauthorized NEHRP in 2004 (P.L. 108-360), and designated NIST as the lead agency, to create better synergy among the agencies and improve the program. Understanding has improved about why and where earthquakes occur; however, reliably predicting the precise date and time an earthquake will occur is not yet possible. Research may eventually lead to an ability to predict earthquakes, but the focus of NEHRP now has shifted towards improving the nation's ability to prepare for earthquakes and to minimize losses when an earthquake occurs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2008-01-16
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Earthquakes in Mississippi and Vicinity 1811-2010
"This map summarizes two centuries of earthquake activity in Mississippi. Work on the Mississippi map was done in collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Geology. The earthquake data plotted on the map are from several sources: the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, and the Arkansas Geological Survey. In addition to earthquake locations, other materials include seismic hazard and isoseismal maps and related text. Earthquakes are a legitimate concern in Mississippi and parts of adjacent States. Mississippi has undergone a number of felt earthquakes since 1811. At least two of these events caused property damage: a magnitude 4.7 earthquake in 1931, and a magnitude 4.3 earthquake in 1967. The map shows all historical and instrumentally located earthquakes in Mississippi and vicinity between 1811 and 2010. The largest historic earthquake in the vicinity of the State was an intensity XI event, on December 16, 1811; the first earthquake in the New Madrid sequence. This violent event and the earthquakes that followed caused considerable damage to the then sparsely settled region."
Geological Survey (U.S.)
Dart, R. L. (Richard L.); Bograd, Michael B. E.
2011
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Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research [April 19, 2010]
"The United States faces the possibility of large economic losses from earthquake-damaged buildings and infrastructure. California alone accounts for most of the estimated annualized earthquake losses for the nation, and with Oregon and Washington the three states account for nearly $4.1 billion (77%) of the U.S. total estimated annualized loss. A single large earthquake, however, can cause far more damage than the average annual estimate. An ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported programs aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes are an adequate response to the earthquake hazard. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They variously assess U.S. earthquake hazards, send notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. […]. What effect funding at the levels enacted through FY2009 under NEHRP has had on the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and minimize losses after an earthquake occurs is not clear. It is also difficult to predict precisely how NEHRP reauthorized under H.R. 3820 would achieve a major goal of the bill: to reduce the loss of life and damage to communities and infrastructure through increasing the adoption of hazard mitigation measures. A perennial issue for Congress is whether activities under NEHRP can reduce the potential for catastrophic loss in the next giant earthquake to strike the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2010-04-19
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Understanding Earthquake Hazards in the Pacific Northwest: A Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake in the Tacoma Fault Zone - A Plausible Scenario for the Southern Puget Sound Region, Washington
"The U.S. Geological Survey
and cooperating scientists
have recently assessed the
effects of a magnitude 7.1
earthquake on the Tacoma
Fault Zone in Pierce County,
Washington. A quake of
comparable magnitude struck
the southern Puget Sound
region about 1,100 years ago,
and similar earthquakes are
almost certain to occur in the
future. The region is now home
to hundreds of thousands of
people, who would be at risk
from the shaking, liquefaction,
landsliding, and tsunamis
caused by such an earthquake.
The modeled effects of this
scenario earthquake will
help emergency planners and
residents of the region prepare
for future quakes."
Geological Survey (U.S.); United States. Department of the Interior
2010-04
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Potential Effects of a Scenario Earthquake on the Economy of Southern California: Small Business Exposure and Sensitivity Analysis to a Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake
This report for the Geographic Analysis and Monitoring Program, in conjunction with the magnitude 7.8 ShakeOut Scenario, examines the potential impact on small businesses in Southern California if an earthquake were to occur. From the introduction: "The Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) is a collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and various partners from the public and private sectors and academia, meant to improve Southern California's resiliency to natural hazards (Jones and others, 2007). In support of the MHDP objectives, the ShakeOut Scenario was developed. It describes a magnitude 7.8 (M7.8) earthquake along the southernmost 300 kilometers (200 miles) of the San Andreas Fault, identified by geoscientists as a plausible event that will cause moderate to strong shaking over much of the eight-county (Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura) Southern California region (Jones and others, 2008). This report contains an exposure and sensitivity analysis of small businesses in terms of labor and employment statistics. Exposure is measured as the absolute counts of labor market variables anticipated to experience each level of Instrumental Intensity (a proxy measure of damage). Sensitivity is the percentage of the exposure of each business establishment size category to each Instrumental Intensity level. The analysis concerns the direct effect of the earthquake on small businesses." Figures (1-7) and Tables (1-5) illustrate an earthquake's impact on employees in designated establishments throughout Southern California.
United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)
Wein, Anne M.; Hester, D. J. (David J.); Sherrouse, Benson C.
2008
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HayWired Earthquake Scenario--Earthquake Hazards
From the Foreword: "The 1906 Great San Francisco earthquake (magnitude 7.8) and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake (magnitude 6.9) each motivated residents of the San Francisco Bay region to build countermeasures to earthquakes into the fabric of the region. Since Loma Prieta, bay-region communities, governments, and utilities have invested tens of billions of dollars in seismic upgrades and retrofits and replacements of older buildings and infrastructure. Innovation and state-of-the-art engineering, informed by science, including novel seismic-hazard assessments, have been applied to the challenge of increasing seismic resilience throughout the bay region. However, as long as people live and work in seismically vulnerable buildings or rely on seismically vulnerable transportation and utilities, more work remains to be done. With that in mind, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and its partners developed the HayWired scenario as a tool to enable further actions that can change the outcome when the next major earthquake strikes. By illuminating the likely impacts to the present-day built environment, well-constructed scenarios can and have spurred officials and citizens to take steps that change the outcomes the scenario describes, whether used to guide more realistic response and recovery exercises or to launch mitigation measures that will reduce future risk."
California Geological Survey; Geological Survey (U.S.)
Detweiler, Shane T.; Wein, Anne M.
2018-12
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Strategic Plan for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: Fiscal Years 2009-2013
"This Strategic Plan for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) for Fiscal Years 2009--2013 is submitted to Congress by the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) of NEHRP, as required by the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-124, 42 U.S.C. 7701 et. seq.), as amended by Public Law 108-360. The Plan outlines a cooperative program of earthquake monitoring, research, implementation, education, and outreach activities performed by the NEHRP agencies. [...] Accomplishing the NEHRP mission requires developing and applying knowledge based on research in the geological, engineering, and social sciences; educating leaders and the public; and assisting State, local, and private-sector leaders to develop standards, policies, and practices. The NEHRP agencies have established three overarching, long-term Strategic Goals: Improve understanding of earthquake processes and impacts; Develop cost-effective measures to reduce earthquake impacts on individuals, the built environment, and society at large; and improve the earthquake resilience of communities nationwide. [...] The Plan adds nine new cross-cutting Strategic Priorities that directly support the goals and augment other ongoing agency activities needed to satisfy them. The NEHRP agencies plan to emphasize these priorities during the Strategic Plan period. The priorities are: Fully implement the Advanced National Seismic System; Improve techniques for evaluating and rehabilitating existing buildings; Further develop Performance-Based Seismic Design; Increase consideration of socioeconomic issues related to hazard mitigation implementation; Develop a national post-earthquake information management system; Develop advanced earthquake risk mitigation technologies and practices; Develop guidelines for earthquake-resilient lifeline components and systems; Develop and conduct earthquake scenarios for effective earthquake risk reduction and response and recovery planning; Facilitate improved earthquake mitigation at State and local levels."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2008-10
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1964 Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunamis - A Modern Perspective and Enduring Legacies
This is a Fact Sheet from the U.S. Geological Survey about the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake. From the Introduction: "The magnitude 9.2 Great Alaska Earthquake, which struck south-central Alaska at 5:36 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 1964, is the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history and the second-largest earthquake recorded with modern instruments. The earthquake was felt throughout most of mainland Alaska, as far west as Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands 800 miles away from Anchorage, and at Seattle, Washington, more than 1,200 miles to the southeast of the fault rupture, where the Space Needle swayed perceptibly. The earthquake caused rivers, lakes, and other waterways to slosh as far away as the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. Water-level recorders in 47 states--the entire Nation except for Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island--registered the earthquake. It was so large that it caused the entire Earth to ring like a bell: vibrations that were among the first of their kind ever recorded by modern instruments. The Great Alaska Earthquake spawned thousands of lesser aftershocks and hundreds of damaging landslides, submarine slumps, and other ground failures. Alaska's largest city, Anchorage, located west of the fault rupture, sustained heavy property damage. Tsunamis produced by the earthquake resulted in deaths and damage as far away as Oregon and California. Altogether the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis caused 129 fatalities and an estimated $2.3 billion in property losses (in 2013 dollars). […] This fact sheet commemorates the Great Alaska Earthquake and examines the advances in knowledge and technology that have helped to improve earthquake preparation and response both in Alaska and around the world."
Geological Survey (U.S.); United States. Department of the Interior
Brocher, Thomas M.; Filson, John R.; Fuis, Gary S. . . .
2014-03
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Earthquakes in Arkansas and Vicinity 1699-2010
"This U.S. Geological Survey map poster summarizes approximately 300 years of earthquake activity in Arkansas. It is one in a series of similar State earthquake history maps. Work on the Arkansas map was done in collaboration with the Arkansas Geological Survey. The earthquake data plotted on the map are from several sources: the Arkansas Geological Survey, the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. In addition to earthquake locations, other materials include seismic hazard and isoseismal maps and related text. Earthquakes are a legitimate concern in Arkansas and parts of adjacent states. The largest historic earthquake in the vicinity of the State was an intensity XI event, on December 16, 1811, the first earthquake in the New Madrid sequence. This violent event and the earthquakes that followed caused considerable damage to the then sparsely settled region. Since 1811 Arkansas has undergone a number of felt earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and greater. The most significant recent and ongoing earthquake activity are the events of the Enola swarm. Since beginning on January 12, 1982, more than 40,000 events have been recorded. The largest of these was a M4.0 on October 11, 2010."
Geological Survey (U.S.)
Dart, R. L. (Richard L.); Ausbrooks, Scott M.
2011
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Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research [January 14, 2010]
"An ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported programs aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes are an adequate response to the earthquake hazard. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They variously assess U.S. earthquake hazards, send notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. [...] This report discusses: NEHRP--the multi-agency federal program to reduce the nation's risk from earthquakes; earthquake hazards and risk in the United States; federal programs that support earthquake monitoring; the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings; and federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2010-01-14
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Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research [July 18, 2013]
"Close to 75 million people in 39 states face some risk from earthquakes. Earthquake hazards are greatest in the western United States, particularly in California, but also in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii. Earthquake hazards are also prominent in the Rocky Mountain region and the New Madrid Seismic Zone (a portion of the central United States), as well as in portions of the eastern seaboard, particularly South Carolina. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), the federal government supports efforts to assess and monitor earthquake hazards and risk in the United States. Given the potentially huge costs associated with a large, damaging earthquake in the United States, an ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported earthquake programs are appropriate for the earthquake risk. This report discusses: [1] earthquake hazards and risk in the United States, [2] federal programs that support earthquake monitoring, [3] the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings, and [4] federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2013-07-18
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Hazus Estimated Annualized Earthquake Losses for the United States, April 2017
"Large earthquakes can cause social and economic disruption that can be unprecedented to any given community, and the full recovery from these impacts may or may not always be achievable. In the United States (U.S.), the 1994 M6.7 Northridge earthquake in California remains the third costliest disaster in U.S. history; and it was one of the most expensive disasters for the federal government. Internationally, earthquakes in the last decade alone have claimed tens of thousands of lives and caused hundreds of billions of dollars of economic impact throughout the globe (~90 billion U.S. dollars (USD) from 2008 M7.9 Wenchuan China, ~20 billion USD from 2010 M8.8 Maule earthquake in Chile, ~220 billion USD from 2011 M9.0 Tohoku Japan earthquake, ~25 billion USD from 2011 M6.3 Christchurch New Zealand, and ~22 billion USD from 2016 M7.0 Kumamoto Japan). Recent earthquakes show a pattern of steadily increasing damages and losses that are primarily due to three key factors: (1) significant growth in earthquake-prone urban areas, (2) vulnerability of the older building stock, including poorly engineered non-ductile concrete buildings, and (3) an increased interdependency in terms of supply and demand for the businesses that operate among different parts of the world. In the United States, earthquake risk continues to grow with increased exposure of population and development even though the earthquake hazard has remained relatively stable except for the regions of induced seismic activity. Understanding the seismic hazard requires studying earthquake characteristics and locales in which they occur, while understanding the risk requires an assessment of the potential damage from earthquake shaking to the built environment and to the welfare of people--especially in high-risk areas."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; Geological Survey (U.S.); National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2017-04
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Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners: [January 2011]
"This Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners provides contact information for more than 300 organizations and individuals involved in earthquake mitigation at the federal and state levels and in the non-governmental sector. The Directory is organized into the following sections: Section I: Introduction Section II: FEMA Earthquake Partners Section III: In‐House Resources Section IV: List of Acronyms Section II, FEMA Earthquake Partners, provides contact information (organization, web page link, name and title of key staff, staff email, and staff telephone number) for the following groups: the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Agencies; the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR); FEMA Regional and Headquarters (HQ) Earthquake Program Managers; State Earthquake Program Managers; Regional Earthquake Consortia; Seismic Safety Commissions, Committees, and Councils; Universities and Academic Research Centers; and Non-Governmental Partners. It should be noted that not every organization listed under Non-Governmental Partners has a mission based on earthquake mitigation. Some of the organizations are included because their constituents, such as homeowners, school children, and property insurers, will benefit from or have a significant interest in earthquake mitigation."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.); United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2011-01
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Earthquake-Resistant Design Concepts: An Introduction to the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures
"Of the 500,000 or so detectable earthquakes that occur on Planet Earth each year, people will 'feel' about 100,000 of them and about 100 will cause damage. Although most earthquakes are moderate in size and destructive potential, a severe earthquake occasionally strikes a community that is not adequately prepared and thousands of lives and billions of dollars in economic investment are lost. For example, a great earthquake and the fires it initiated destroyed much of San Francisco in 1906 and a significant portion of Anchorage, Alaska, was destroyed by a large earthquake in 1964. Within the past 200 years, major destructive earthquakes also occurred in Charleston, South Carolina, and Memphis, Tennessee. Within the past 50 years, smaller but damaging earthquakes occurred several times in both Los Angeles and Seattle. Overall, more than 20 states have a moderate or high risk of experiencing damaging earthquakes. Earthquakes are truly a national problem. One of the key ways a community protects itself from potential earthquake disasters is by adopting and enforcing a building code with appropriate seismic design and construction standards. The seismic requirements in U.S. model building codes and standards are updated through the volunteer efforts of design professionals and construction industry representatives under a process sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC). At regular intervals, the BSSC develops and FEMA publishes the NEHRP (National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program) Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures (referred to in this publication as the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions or simply the Provisions)."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-12
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Financing Recovery After a Catastrophic Earthquake or Nuclear Power Incident [August 25, 2011]
"In the aftermath of the recent East Coast earthquake (and shut down of the North Anna nuclear power plants) and Japan's technological and natural disaster, U.S. policymakers are asking if it could happen here and, if so, how associated costs would be financed. In the event of a major natural disaster, several catastrophe risk financing and insurance issues could arise, including (1) the need to revisit the nature, extent, and timing of potential earthquake and tsunami hazards in the United States; (2) the adequacy of nuclear third-party liability insurance capacity; and (3) the challenges of financing recovery from natural disasters and making earthquake insurance more affordable. The latter challenge is largely a function of the national financial markets' capacity to absorb the cost and economic burden of a devastating mega-earthquake. Given the economic devastation in Japan, there is heightened congressional interest in finding ways to reduce disaster risk for homeowners, insurance companies, financial firms, and both federal and state governments. This report examines earthquake catastrophe risk and insurance in the United States in light of recent developments. It examines both traditional and non-traditional approaches for financing recovery from earthquake losses as well as challenges in financing catastrophe losses with insurance. The report also explores the feasibility of a federal residential earthquake insurance mechanism and assesses policy implications of such a program. Finally, the report examines legislation introduced in the 112th Congress that addresses issues related to earthquakes, including S. 637, the Earthquake Insurance Affordability Act. S. 637 would authorize the U.S. Treasury to guarantee up to $5 billion in bonds available to certified public entities, like the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), following a catastrophic seismic event. The entity would have to exhaust its claims-paying ability before the federal guarantee becomes available. The measure is designed to reduce earthquake insurance rates by reducing the need to purchase reinsurance. The bonds would be repaid with premiums."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
King, Rawle O.
2011-08-25
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Tsunamis and Earthquakes: Is Federal Disaster Insurance in Our Future? [Updated November 7, 2006]
"In the aftermath of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and America's continued vulnerability to seismic hazards, including the 2006 Hawaiian earthquake, Members of Congress might elect to focus attention on the vulnerability of the U.S. coastlines to offshore earthquakes and tsunamis, and the potential effects of a major earthquake on both the homeowners' insurance market and the overall U.S. economy. Congress has debated the vulnerability of America's coastlines to earthquake and tsunami hazard risks, leading to legislative action following the April 1992 California earthquake/tsunami and the 1964 earthquake/tsunami at Alaska's Prince William Sound. Although a federal flood insurance program was eventually enacted in 1968 in response to the 1964 earthquake, it took Congress another decade to address the nation's exposure to earthquake hazards with the enactment of the Earthquake Hazard Reduction Act of 1977. Congress did not create an explicit federal earthquake insurance program, albeit the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program was established in 1992. Some insurance and disaster policy experts suggest the time has come to implement a federal insurance or reinsurance program for earthquakes and other seismic risks. Conversely, other experts question the need for such a program. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
King, Rawle O.
2006-11-07
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [Updated December 13, 2018]
"Portions of all 50 states and the District of Columbia are vulnerable to earthquake hazards, although risks vary greatly across the country and within individual states. Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state, experiencing a magnitude 7 earthquake almost every year and a magnitude 8 earthquake every 13 years, on average, since 1900. [...] Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These agencies assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program encompasses how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. [...] The review and report would look at how states, tribes, and local governments are using NEHRP-generated information and implementing measures to reduce their earthquake risk."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-12-13
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [July 9, 2013]
"Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These agencies assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program encompasses how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. Better coordination was a concern that led to changes to the program in legislation enacted in 2004 (P.L. [Public Law] 108-360). P.L. 108-360 authorized appropriations for NEHRP through FY2009. Total funding enacted from reauthorization through FY2009 was $613.2 million, approximately 68% of the total amount of $902.4 million authorized by P.L. 108-360. Although authorization for appropriations expired in 2009, Congress has continued to appropriate funds for NEHRP activities. NEHRP agencies spent $125.5 million for program activities in FY2012, slightly less than FY2011 spending of $126.6 million. Also, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA; P.L. 111-5) provided some additional funding for earthquake activities under NEHRP. What effect funding at the levels enacted through FY2013 under NEHRP has had on the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and minimize losses after an earthquake occurs is difficult to assess. The effectiveness of the NEHRP program is a perennial issue for Congress: it is inherently difficult to capture precisely, in terms of dollars saved or fatalities prevented, the effectiveness of mitigation measures taken before an earthquake occurs. A major earthquake in a populated urban area within the United States would cause damage, and in question is how much damage would be prevented by mitigation strategies underpinned by the NEHRP program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2013-07-09
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Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country: Your Handbook for Earthquakes in the Central United States
"This 2011 handbook provides information about the threat posed by earthquakes in the Central United States, particularly along the New Madrid seismic zone, and explains how you can prepare for, survive, and recover from these inevitable events. If you live or work in the Central United States, you need to know why you should be concerned about earthquakes, what you can expect during and after an earthquake, and what you need to do beforehand to be safe and protect your property."
Geological Survey (U.S.); United States. Department of the Interior
Williams, Robert A.; McCarthy, Jill; Dart, R. L. (Richard L.)
2011
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Effectiveness of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: A Report from the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction [May 2008]
This report form the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction discusses the severity of the diminishing funds appropriated for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and the recommendations for its participating agencies, FEMA, NSF, NIST and the USGS. "This report is a brief synthesis of the Committee's observations, conclusions, and recommendations related to the current status of NEHRP. It does not attempt to repeat information received by ACEHR on NEHRP activities to date of strategic plans. It also does not attempt to outline the process used to develop the recommendations, as that is well noted in the meeting summaries, the trends and developments papers and the assessment scorecard used to gather opinions related to effectiveness. The report is organized around the task assigned to ACEHR by its authorizing legislation. Section 2, Program Effectiveness and Needs, is organized by NEHRP agency and focuses on past and current accomplishments, future plans, and modifications needed to address the goals of the 2008-2012 NEHRP Strategic Plan. Two or three prioritized recommendations are included that related to augmenting each agency's activities beyond their current efforts. Section 3, Management, Coordination, and Implementation of NEHRP, includes complimentary assessments of the "new" NEHRP office within NIST, the effectiveness of the Program Coordination Working Group (PCWG), and the intrinsic agencies and the Directors of the White House OMB and OSTP. This report also includes some suggestions on future ACEHR activities and membership and a single recommendation related to post-earthquake investigations."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2008-05
