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USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program Earthquake Glossary [website]
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed an "earthquake glossary" to assist in earthquake education. This A-Z reference site covers terminology related to earthquakes and other seismic activity.
Geological Survey (U.S.)
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Expanding and Using Knowledge to Reduce Earthquake Losses: The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, Strategic Plan, 2001-2005
"This Strategic Plan is submitted in response to PL 95-124 (as amended) and PL 101-614. It serves as an operational plan for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) agencies and guides Federal earthquake research, loss reduction, and mitigation efforts in the U.S. The plan articulates the mission and goals of the NEHRP, provides a framework for priority-setting and coordinating activities, and defines priority areas for the future. […]. The plan is also responsive to the desire of Congress that NEHRP emphasize coordination of research activities, speedy transfer of new knowledge, and implementation of the results and technologies by the user community. This plan addresses demands for greater productivity, efficiency, and accountability from the Federal government. [….]. This is a living document. Factors affecting earthquake risk reduction may change and evolve differently than expected, and therefore goals and objectives, priorities, strategies, and planning contexts may change over the life of this plan. Consequently, the plan will be reviewed biennially by the participating agencies to assess the status of implementation and refine or revise approaches based on experience. The biennial review will coincide with the requirement for a NEHRP report to Congress. A more formal and comprehensive review, to be performed every five years, will involve internal and external stakeholders and may result in more substantive changes."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2003-03
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Earthquake Risk Reduction in the United States: An Assessment of Selected User Needs and Recommendations for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
"This Assessment was conducted to improve the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) by providing NEHRP agencies with information that supports their user-oriented setting of crosscutting priorities in the NEHRP strategic planning process. The primary objective of this Assessment was to take a 'snapshot' evaluation of the needs of selected users throughout the major program elements of NEHRP. Secondary objectives were to conduct an assessment of the knowledge that exists (or is being developed by NEHRP) to support earthquake risk reduction, and to begin a process of evaluating how NEHRP is meeting user needs. An identification of NEHRP's strengths also resulted from the effort, since those strengths demonstrate successful methods that may be useful to NEHRP in the future. These strengths are identified in the text, and many of them represent important achievements since the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act was passed in 1977."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Department of Energy
Center for Natural Phenomena Engineering
1994-12-31
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Serial No. 115-62: Earthquake Mitigation: Reauthorizing the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Field Hearing Before the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, May 31, 2018
This is the May 31, 2018 field hearing on "Earthquake Mitigation: Reauthorizing the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program" held before the U.S. House Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. From the Hearing Charter: "The purpose of the hearing is to review the federal National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), to examine the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of the 40-year interagency effort, and to receive recommendations for future reauthorization of the program." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Steven McCabe, Stephen Hickman, Frank Vernon, Chris D. Poland, and Ryan Arba.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2018
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South Napa Earthquake Recovery Advisory: Earthquake Strengthening of Cripple Walls in Wood-Frame Dwellings, Second Edition
From the Purpose: "The August 24, 2014 South Napa earthquake (FEMA DR‐4193) has reinforced past observations that wood‐ frame dwellings with flexible wood foundation walls (known as cripple walls) and inadequate anchorage (bolting) to the foundation are vulnerable to damage from earthquake shaking. [...] This Recovery Advisory Addresses: [1] Installation of pre‐engineered plywood bracing and foundation anchorage details intended to improve the performance of cripple walls in wood‐frame dwellings in future earthquakes. [2] Information on how and when to use the FEMA Plan Set, and when to engage the services of a design professional."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2019-09
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Annual Report of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: To Accompany the President's Budget Request to Congress for Fiscal Year 2008, March 2007
"Earthquakes represent the largest single potential source for casualties and damage from a natural hazard in the United States. Although damaging earthquakes occur infrequently, they strike without warning, resulting in catastrophic consequences. 'When the Big One Strikes Again,' a regional scenario developed for last year's Quake '06 conference, projects that the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, if it would occur today, would affect nearly 10 million residents within a 19 county area and would cost between $90 and $120 billion to repair or replace more than 90,000 damaged buildings and their contents. Depending upon when the earthquake occurs--day or night--building collapses would cause 800 to 3,400 deaths. Although earthquakes cannot be prevented, their impact on life and property can be managed to a large degree. The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), which is authorized by the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, as amended, seeks to mitigate earthquake losses in the United States through both basic and directed research and implementation activities in the fields of earthquake science and engineering. […] This report to Congress describes the achievements of the NEHRP agencies and their partners in Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 and FY 2006 in mitigating earthquake losses nationwide."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
Marburger, John H. (John Harmen); Paulison, Robert David, 1947-; Jeffrey, William Alan, 1960-
2007-03
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Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners [June 2013]
"Developing and strengthening partnerships for building safer communities underlies all of the initiatives and activities carried out by FEMA in support of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). This Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners supports those partnerships by providing 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. Section II, FEMA Earthquake Partners, provides contact information (organization, web page link, name and title of key staff, staff email, and staff telephone number, when provided) for the following groups: the NEHRP Agencies; the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR); FEMA Regional and Headquarters (HQ) Earthquake Program Managers; State and Territorial Earthquake Program Managers; Regional Earthquake Consortia; Seismic Safety Commissions, Committees, and Councils; Universities and Academic Research Centers; and Non-Governmental Partners. 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."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2013-06
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FEMA National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2012
"This report describes selected FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] NEHRP [National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program] accomplishments (HQ and Regional), followed by highlights from the States and U.S. territories and organizations which received FEMA support for NEHRP activities in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. Each year, FEMA provides cooperative agreement funds to eligible States and U.S. territories with moderate to high seismic risk to mitigate those risks and reduce future losses from earthquakes. In FY 2012, FEMA awarded more than $1.7 million to 25 States and territories to support the effective implementation of earthquake risk reduction activities: earthquake training and awareness, seismic mitigation plans, property inventory, seismic safety inspections, building codes adoption, and the development of multistate groups. Organizations receiving FEMA support included the four regional earthquake consortia - Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW), Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC); Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC); and the Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC); the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI); and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. (FLASH). The accomplishments showcase how FEMA and its partners, working in collaboration, are continuing to make progress toward earthquake loss-reduction nationwide. Work completed in FY 2012 will help in the near term to reduce earthquake risk, and also will help to create the foundation for realizing effective outcomes in future years."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2013-04
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Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners [January 2012]
"Developing and strengthening partnerships for building safer communities underlies all of the initiatives and activities carried out by FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] in support of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). This Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners supports those partnerships by providing 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. Section II, FEMA Earthquake Partners, provides contact information (organization, web page link, name and title of key staff, staff email, and staff telephone number, when provided) for the following groups: the NEHRP Agencies; the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR); FEMA Regional and Headquarters (HQ) Earthquake Program Managers; State and Territorial Earthquake Program Managers; Regional Earthquake Consortia; Seismic Safety Commissions, Committees, and Councils; Universities and Academic Research Centers; and Non-Governmental Partners. 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."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2012-01
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Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners [August 2012]
"Developing and strengthening partnerships for building safer communities underlies all of the initiatives and activities carried out by FEMA in support of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). This Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners supports those partnerships by providing 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. Section II, FEMA Earthquake Partners, provides contact information (organization, web page link, name and title of key staff, staff email, and staff telephone number, when provided) for the following groups: the NEHRP Agencies; the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR); FEMA Regional and Headquarters (HQ) Earthquake Program Managers; State and Territorial Earthquake Program Managers; Regional Earthquake Consortia; Seismic Safety Commissions, Committees, and Councils; Universities and Academic Research Centers; and Non-Governmental Partners. 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."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2012-08
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Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research [ January 22, 2010]
"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. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has estimated that earthquakes cost the United States over $5 billion per year. A hypothetical scenario for a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in southern California estimated a possibility of 1,800 fatalities and over $200 billion in economic losses. […]. 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). […]. would exceed the total cumulative amounts actually appropriated between FY2005 and FY2009. 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)
2010-01-22
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [October 12, 2017]
"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 [...]. [...] Although authorization for appropriations expired in 2009, Congress has continued to appropriate funds for NEHRP activities. [...] The budget request for FY2018 would reduce total funding for NEHRP activities to $124.1 million, a decrease of about 8% compared to FY2017. Legislation introduced in the 115th Congress, S. 1768 (the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2017), largely would leave the current four-agency NEHRP program intact, while providing some new areas of emphasis and omitting specific authorization of appropriations levels for the member agencies. The bill, introduced on September 6, 2017, would emphasize activities to promote greater resilience to earthquakes and activities that would enhance the effectiveness of an earthquake early warning system, among other changes. S. 1768 would remove statutory language referring to an original purpose of the program to seek a capability to predict earthquakes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2017-10-12
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United States Earthquake Early Warning System: How Theory and Analysis Can Save America Before the Big One Happens
From the thesis abstract: "The United States is extremely vulnerable to catastrophic earthquakes. More than 143 million Americans may be threatened by damaging earthquakes in the next 50 years. This thesis argues that the United States is unprepared for the most catastrophic earthquakes the country faces today. Earthquake early warning systems are a major solution in practice to reduce economic risk, to protect property and the environment, and to save lives. Other countries have already built earthquake early warning systems, but only after they suffered devastating earthquakes. In the United States, ShakeAlert is the available solution, but it only operates on a test basis in California and still lacks sufficient capability and sustained funding to become operational. This thesis applies an input-output model of political systems theory to analyze how the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, which controls the development of ShakeAlert, functions in the United States. Using this model provides a framework for a discourse of the analysis to determine how the consequences of catastrophic earthquakes shape our decisions and policies for ShakeAlert. This thesis also examines what changes are required within our political system for ShakeAlert to launch as quickly as possible on a national scale and to allow for its sustained integration within the American preparedness culture. Perhaps most importantly, the implementation of ShakeAlert will help prepare the people, businesses, infrastructure, economies, and communities, hopefully before the next significant earthquake impacts the United States. Will the United States have to experience a devastating earthquake before implementing a solution that is recognized to save lives?"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Rockabrand, Ryan
2017-12
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Earthquake Country Alliance [website]
"The Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA) is a statewide 'alliance of alliances' linking the public information efforts of organizations and individuals that provide earthquake information and services. Participants include the Redwood Coast Tsunami Workgroup, the Bay Area Earthquake Alliance, the Central Coast Earthquake Alliance, and the Southern California Earthquake Alliance (new name of the original 'ECA'). Other regional alliances may join the ECA in the future representing other parts of the state. ECA members include: scientists and engineers; non-profit organization and business leaders; community groups and activists; federal, state, and local government leaders and agencies; tribes; and others who share a passion for making a difference towards reducing California's earthquake risk. Join today using one of our online forms. You can also view our participant lists to see who is involved. Soon earthquakecountry.org will be updated to provide a one-stop source for regional alliance activities and general earthquake preparedness, mitigation, and safety information through its related websites daretoprepare.org, dropcoverholdon.org, terremotos.org (Spanish information), and ShakeOut.org, the website of the annual statewide earthquake drill that the ECA organizes with its many partners. The ECA's main strategy is to coordinate the earthquake information materials and programs of organizations with related missions and activities, so that the public receives information that is consistent, from multiple sources they trust, through multiple channels, and serves all California residents."
Southern California Earthquake Center
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FEMA National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2013
"This report describes selected FEMA NEHRP [National Earthquake Hazards Reductions Program] accomplishments (HQ and Regional), followed by highlights from the States and U.S. territories and organizations which received FEMA support for NEHRP activities. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, FEMA awarded more than $ 1.2 million to eligible States and territories to support the effective implementation of earthquake risk reduction activities. Organizations receiving FEMA support included the four regional earthquake consortia - Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW), Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC), and the Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) - the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. (FLASH), and the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). The accomplishments described in this report showcase how FEMA and its partners, working in collaboration, continued to make progress toward earthquake loss-reduction nationwide. Much of the work completed in FY 2013 is helping to reduce the earthquake risk, and is now serving as the foundation for realizing effective long-term outcomes."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2014?
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Understanding Earthquake Hazards Around the World
"An essential role of the Federal Government is to minimize loss of life and property that results from natural disasters such as earthquakes. The U.S. Geological Survey, through its National Earthquake Information Center, helps fulfill this responsibility. Since 1973, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has provided up-to-date earthquake information to scientists, government agencies, universities, private companies, and the general public. This information includes determinations of the locations and severity of seismic events in the United States and throughout the world, including the rapid analysis of significant earthquakes on a 24-hour basis. Seism-mologists around the world use this information to increase their understanding of earthquakes and to better evaluate earthquake hazards. The USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) in Golden, Colorado, operates a 24-hour-a-day Earthquake Early Alerting Service. This service rapidly and accurately determines the location and magnitude of significant earthquakes throughout the world."
United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)
Brown, William M.; Person, Waverly J.; Zirbes, Madeleine D.
1997
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Seismic Waves: FEMA Homebuilders' Guide to Earthquake-Resistant Design and Construction
Seismic Waves is a newsletter published by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). "Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program [...], the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works to reduce the ever-increasing risks to people and property posed by earthquakes and related hazards in the United States. Preventing losses by designing and constructing buildings to withstand anticipated earthquake forces is one of the key components of mitigation and one of the most effective ways of reducing the costs of future disasters. As part of its mitigation responsibilities under NEHRP, FEMA develops, publishes, and disseminates technical guidance on the design and construction of earthquake-resistant structures. One- and two-family dwellings have traditionally performed fairly well in earthquakes because of their relative lightness and regular shape, and, as a result, little technical guidance on the earthquake-resistant design and construction of these dwellings has been developed. While one- and two-family houses typically do not collapse in earthquakes, recent events have shown that they can sustain significant damage and be rendered uninhabitable. This is especially true when sufficient attention is not paid to construction details and when contemporary design dictates the use of large expanses of windows and irregular footprints. Given the sheer number of these buildings in the United States, even minor earthquake damage to houses can result in significant aggregate loss and heavy demand for temporary housing."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2007-10
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Multi-hazard Loss Estimation Methodology: Earthquake Model, Hazus-MH 2.1: User Manual
"This brief overview of the earthquake loss estimation methodology is intended for local, regional, or state officials contemplating an earthquake loss study. The methodology has been developed for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) to provide a tool for developing earthquake loss estimates for use in: 1) Anticipating the possible nature and scope of the emergency response needed to cope with an earthquake-related disaster, 2) Developing plans for recovery and reconstruction following a disaster, and 3) Mitigating the possible consequences of earthquakes. If developed for areas of seismic risk across the nation, estimates also will help guide the allocation of federal resources to stimulate risk mitigation efforts and to plan for federal earthquake response. Use of the methodology will generate an estimate of the consequences to a city or region of a 'scenario earthquake', i.e., an earthquake with a specified magnitude and location. The resulting 'loss estimate' generally will describe the scale and extent of damage and disruption that may result from a potential earthquake."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Fact Sheet: Indian Ocean Earthquake/Tsunami of December 26, 2004
"The December 26, 2004 event in the Indian Ocean was a rare magnitude 9.0 earthquake with an undersea source that triggered a massive tsunami. The effects of the earthquake-induced tsunami were felt throughout the Indian Ocean rim countries, resulting in estimates of more than 155,000 fatalities, 500,000 injured, and damages well in excess of $10 billion. The fact sheet was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which serves as the NEHRP lead agency, and reflects inputs from the other NEHRP agencies: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2005-01-15
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Expanding and Using Knowledge to Reduce Earthquake Losses: The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, Strategic Plan 2001-2005
"This Strategic Plan [...] serves as an operational plan for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) agencies and guides Federal earthquake research, loss reduction, and mitigation efforts in the U.S. The plan articulates the mission and goals of the NEHRP, provides a framework for priority-setting and coordinating activities, and defines priority areas for the future."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2003-03
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: FEMA Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2010
"The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), which was first authorized by Congress in 1977, seeks to mitigate earthquake losses in the United States through basic and directed research and implementation activities in the fields of earthquake science and engineering. As one of the four NEHRP federal agencies, FEMA is responsible for developing effective earthquake risk reduction tools and promoting their implementation, as well as supporting the development of disaster‐resistant building codes and standards. FEMA's NEHRP activities are led by the FEMA Headquarters, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Risk Reduction Division, Building Science Branch, in strong partnership and coordination with the FEMA Regions, the states, the four multi‐state earthquake consortia, and other partners. Section II of this annual report includes selected FEMA NEHRP accomplishments (HQ and Regional), followed by highlights from the states and organizations which received FEMA support for NEHRP activitisin Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, including the earthquake consortia and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. Section III provides contact information for FEMA HQ and FEMA Regional Earthquake Program Managers."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2011-03
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Multi-hazard Loss Estimation Methodology: Earthquake Model, Hazus-MH MR5: Technical Manual
"The Technical Manual describes the methods for performing earthquake loss estimation. It is based on a multi-year project to develop a nationally applicable methodology for estimating potential earthquake losses on a regional basis. The project has being conducted for the National Institute of Building Science (NIBS) under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The primary purpose of the project is to develop guidelines and procedures for making earthquake loss estimates at a regional scale. These loss estimates would be used primarily by local, state and regional officials to plan and stimulate efforts to reduce risks from earthquakes and to prepare for emergency response and recovery. A secondary purpose of the project is to provide a basis for assessing nationwide risk of earthquake losses. The methodology development and software implementation has been performed by a team of earthquake loss experts composed of earth scientists, engineers, architects, economists, emergency planners, social scientists and software developers. The Earthquake Committee has provided technical direction and review of work with guidance from the Project Oversight Committee (POC), a group representing user interests in the earthquake engineering community. [...]. The scope of the Technical Manual includes documentation of all methods and data that are used by the methodology. Loss estimation methods and data are obtained from referenced sources tailored to fit the framework of the methodology, or from new methods and data developed when existing methods and data were lacking or were not current with the state of the art."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: Fiscal Year 1983 Activities, Report to the United States Congress
From the Introduction: "The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) was established by the United States Congress in 1977 to reduce the risks of life and property from future earthquakes in the United States. The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-124) directed the President 'to establish and maintain an effective earthquake hazards reduction program.' The Congress recognized that earthquakes pose perhaps the greatest single-event natural hazard faced by the Nation. An earthquake can affect hundreds of thousands of square miles, can cause damage to property measured in the tens of billions of dollars, can cause loss of life and injury to tens of thousands of persons, and can disrupt the social and economic function of the affected area, and potentially, of the entire Nation. The Congress concluded that losses and disruption caused by earthquakes could be substantially reduced through the development and implementation of earthquake hazards reduction measures."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; Geological Survey (U.S.); National Science Foundation (U.S.) . . .
Schnell, Mary L.; Herd, Darrell G.
1984?
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US Geological Survey: Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics
This site provides detailed information about earthquakes in the United States as well as throughout the rest of the world. Included on this page is information on the top 20 largest earthquakes in the US; the top 17 largest earthquakes in the world; earthquakes of a magnitude greater than 6, 7, or 8; and special earthquake studies. The page also provides a tool to search the USGS earthquake catalog by location, and a page with statistics on U.S. and worldwide earthquakes including average annual statistics for earthquake count, deaths per year and counts by U.S. State.
Geological Survey (U.S.)
2010-03
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UCERF3: A New Earthquake Forecast for California's Complex Fault System
"With innovations, fresh data, and lessons learned from recent earthquakes, scientists have developed a new earthquake forecast model for California, a region under constant threat from potentially damaging events. The new model, referred to as the third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, or 'UCERF3' (http://www.WGCEP.org/UCERF3), provides authoritative estimates of the magnitude, location, and likelihood of earthquake fault rupture throughout the state. Overall the results confirm previous findings, but with some significant changes because of model improvements. For example, compared to the previous forecast (UCERF2), the likelihood of moderate-sized earthquakes (magnitude 6.5 to 7.5) is lower, whereas that of larger events is higher. This is because of the inclusion of multifault ruptures, where earthquakes are no longer confined to separate, individual faults, but can occasionally rupture multiple faults simultaneously. The public-safety implications of this and other model improvements depend on several factors, including site location and type of structure (for example, family dwelling compared to a long-span bridge). Building codes, earthquake insurance products, emergency plans, and other risk-mitigation efforts will be updated accordingly. This model also serves as a reminder that damaging earthquakes are inevitable for California. Fortunately, there are many simple steps residents can take to protect lives and property."
Geological Survey (U.S.); United States. Department of the Interior
2015-03
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Loma Prieta, California, Earthquake of October 17, 1989--Lifelines
"tch the World Series, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was a lifelines earthquake. It was the images seen around the world of the collapsed Cypress Street viaduct, with the frantic and heroic efforts to pull survivors from the structure that was billowing smoke; the collapsed section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and subsequent home video of a car plunging off the open span; and the spectacular fire in the Marina District of San Francisco fed by a broken gasline. To many of the residents of the San Francisco Bay region, the relation of lifelines to the earthquake was characterized by sitting in the dark because of power outage, the inability to make telephone calls because of network congestion, and the slow and snarled traffic. Had the public been aware of the actions of the engineers and tradespeople working for the utilities and other lifeline organizations on the emergency response and restoration of lifelines, the lifeline characteristics of this earthquake would have been even more significant. Unobserved by the public were the warlike devastation in several electrical-power substations, the 13 mi of gas-distribution lines that had to be replaced in several communities, and the more than 1,200 leaks and breaks in water mains and service connections that had to be excavated and repaired. Like the 1971 San Fernando, Calif., earthquake, which was a seminal event for activity to improve the earthquake performance of lifelines, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake demonstrated that the tasks of preparing lifelines in 'earthquake country' were incomplete-indeed, new lessons had to be learned."
United States. Government Printing Office; United States. Department of the Interior; National Science Foundation (U.S.)
1998
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USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program [website]
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) "is part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) led by the National Instititute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The USGS role in NEHRP is to provide Earth sciences information and products for earthquake loss reduction. The goals of the USGS' EHP are: (1) Improve earthquake hazard identification and risk assessment methods and their use; (2) Maintain and improve comprehensive earthquake monitoring in the United States with focus on 'real-time' systems in urban areas; (3) Improve the understanding of earthquakes occurrence and their effects and consequences. The USGS's EHP also provides External Research Support, which funds external cooperators and awards external grants through a competitive, peer-reviewed proposal process. Participants in the Earthquake ERP include State and local government, the academic community, and the private sector. Priorities for both the internal and external programs are guided by the Earthquake Hazards Program's Five Year Plan (1998-2002)."
Geological Survey (U.S.)
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Whole Lotta Shakin': An Examination of America's Earthquake Early Warning System Development and Implementation, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, June 10, 2014
This testimony compilation is from the June 10, 2014 hearing on "An Examination of America's Earthquake Early Warning System Development and Implementation" held before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. From the opening statement of Doug Lamborn: "In March we held a hearing on the fiftieth anniversary of the Good Friday Great Alaska Earthquake to look at advances in earthquake science over the ensuing half century. The Great Alaska Earthquake was a massive 9.2 magnitude quake making it the second largest earthquake ever recorded with 'modern' seismic equipment, and the largest in the US. As a result, it is one of the most studied natural disasters in history. Today, the committee will focus on the development and implementation of an Earthquake Early Warning System for the Western United States. You might be surprised to learn that an earthquake early warning system was proposed for San Francisco back in 1868. The suggestion that as shaking occurred in Hollister, CA a telegram could be sent to City Hall in San Francisco where an alarm - bells - could be rung to alert residents that imminent shaking was about to start so they might take measures to protect themselves. Hollister is about 74 miles southeast of San Francisco. Even back in the 1860s scientists knew that an electric signal transmits more quickly than seismic waves caused by an earthquake." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bill Leith, John D. Schelling, Douglas Toomey, Richard Allen, and John McPartland.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources
2014-06-10
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: FEMA Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2011
"This report describes a cross-section of selected FEMA NEHRP [Federal Emergency Management Agency National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program] accomplishments (HQ and Regional), followed by highlights from the States and U.S. territories and organizations which received FEMA support for NEHRP activities in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. Each year, FEMA provides cooperative agreement funds to eligible States and U.S. territories with moderate to high seismic risk to mitigate those risks and reduce future losses from earthquakes. In FY 2011, FEMA awarded more than $2 million to 34 States and territories to support the effective implementation of earthquake risk reduction activities: earthquake training and awareness, seismic mitigation plans, property inventory, seismic safety inspections, building codes adoption, and the development of multi-state groups. Organizations receiving FEMA support included the four regional earthquake consortia and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). The following accomplishments showcase how FEMA and its partners, working in collaboration, are continuing to make progress toward earthquake loss-reduction nationwide. Work completed in FY 2011 will have applications immediately or in the near term in reducing earthquake risk, and also will help to create a strong foundation for realizing similarly effective outcomes in future years."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2012-04
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Multi-hazard Loss Estimation Methodology: Earthquake Model, Hazus-MH 2.1: Technical Manual
"The Technical Manual describes the methods for performing earthquake loss estimation. It is based on a multi-year project to develop a nationally applicable methodology for estimating potential earthquake losses on a regional basis. The project has being conducted for the National Institute of Building Science (NIBS) under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The primary purpose of the project is to develop guidelines and procedures for making earthquake loss estimates at a regional scale. These loss estimates would be used primarily by local, state and regional officials to plan and stimulate efforts to reduce risks from earthquakes and to prepare for emergency response and recovery. A secondary purpose of the project is to provide a basis for assessing nationwide risk of earthquake losses. The methodology development and software implementation has been performed by a team of earthquake loss experts composed of earth scientists, engineers, architects, economists, emergency planners, social scientists and software developers. The Earthquake Committee has provided technical direction and review of work with guidance from the Project Oversight Committee (POC), a group representing user interests in the earthquake engineering community."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
