Fax: 503-731-4066

The program has been operating: 3 Years

The major purpose of the program and the problem(s) or issue(s) is designed to address:

The purpose is to systematically map multiple earthquake hazards (amplification, liquefaction and landsliding) as the basis for a variety of mitigation applications and board public education.

The earthquake hazards are published as 7-1/2' 1:24,000 scale quadrangles and in digital files for GIS applications. Risk assessments are conducted to forecast future loss of life and property.

This program’s new and creative approach or method:

This detailed hazard mapping of a major metropolitan area is conducted in partnership with the regional government in order to expedite the application of the map data in mitigation and emergency response planning.

Program’s start-up costs: 500,000

Source(s): FEMA and State of Oregon

Program’s annual operating costs: 900,000

Source(s): FEMA and State of Oregon

Number of full-time equivalent employees working with this program: 3

Did this program originate in your state: Yes

Are similar program in other states?: Yes - in Southern California

This program has been fully implemented: Yes - Remaining actions include publication of maps surrounding the urban area so as to provide hazards information to guide urban expansion, as a mitigation strategy.

The hazard maps have been used by the Portland school district to prioritize retrofit of older school buildings. Numerous other retrofit projects are underway including the city library, city hall, Pioneer Courthouse, and hotels.

The program has changed to use the hazard data as the foundation of a new loss estimation methodology being developed by the National Institute of Building Sciences which selected Portland, Oregon because of the quality and coverage of the seismic hazard mapping.