WSSPC Awards in Excellence 1998

Awarded Category: Outreach to General Public

Program Name: ABAG Earthquake Program Internet Site http://quake.abag.ca.gov

Administering Agency: Association of Bay Area Governments

Contact Person (Name/Title): Jeanne Perkins, Earthquake Program Manager

Address: PO Box 2050, Oakland, CA 94604-2050

Telephone Number: 510-464-7934

Fax Number: 510-464-7970

 

1.	How long has this program been operational? Month: May Year: 1995
2.	What are the major purposes of this program? What problem(s) or issue(s) was it designed to address?
	The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is a joint powers agency of 104 local governments located in the San Francisco Bay Area. In its role as a regional planning agency, AGAG has had an earthquake program since the mid-1970s. ABAG, using a geographic information system (GIS), has developed a number of ground shaking hazard maps and maps of other hazards associated with earthquakes.
	ABAG has also helped local governments, businesses and the general public prepare for earthquake impacts such as loss of housing and damage of destruction of public infrastructure. This work has been funded by NSF, USGS, FEMA, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Caltrans, and local agencies.
	The initial objective of this project was to increase the availability and use of ABAG earthquake hazard maps and information using the technology of the Internet. A secondary objective was to create a centralized location for information on how to mitigate the hazards identified, using largely information from other sources.
	In our original effort (funded by USGS), we wanted to explore the differences between providing traditional "hard copies" of earthquake hazard maps versus providing these maps on the Internet. The goal was to explore means to provide earthquake hazard maps to the public in the most timely and cost- effective manner.
3.	Describe the specific activities and operations of the program.
	The ABAG Earthquake Program maintains a site on the internet designed to provide specific information on the location of various earthquake hazards in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, their impacts, and ways to mitigate those impacts. The site can be accessed through the main abagOnline site (www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps) or via its own name (quake.abag.ca.gov). The site has:
	Information on the main components of ABAG's earthquake research (GIS-generated shaking hazard maps, transportation impacts, and housing impacts); An earthquake quiz and a JAVA-based crossword puzzle designed to appeal to the growing number of intermediate school and high school students now online; Extensive information on how to mitigate shaking damage (including how to structurally retrofit your home with a list of contractors trained by ABAG' Straining Center, and nonstructural mitigation techniques); Basic information on other earthquake-related problems, including liquefaction, dam failure, and hazmat releases; Links to web sites of federal, state and local governments, utilities, earthquake and engineering organizations, and universities (all based in or focusing on the Bay Area, including WSSPC's site); A way to ask questions or provide feedback anonymously (through a form-based e-mail to shaky@abag.ca.gov).
4.	Does this program take a new and creative approach or method? If yes, please describe.
	The popularity of the Internet continues to grow. No medium in the past has provided such universal access to information, and few have so completely captured the public's attention. This project has successfully capitalized on the current fascination with the Internet in order to reach a larger audience and to offer instant access to the specific information of interest to each visitor. The hazard maps, for example, are specific to the city selected by the user.
	The crossword puzzle and earthquake quiz provide immediate answers through JAVA script. The use of links and extensive subcategories for background and mitigation information offer the opportunity for users to read quickly or to investigate in depth those items that interest them.
5.	What were the program’s start-up costs and source(s) of funding?
	$ 70,000 Budget Source: US Geological Survey
	What are the program’s annual operational costs and source(s) of funding?
	$ 20,000 Budget Source: USGS, FEMA, NSF, Caltrans, OES grants and contracts, ABAG, and advertisers
6.	How many employees (full-time equivalent) work(ed) with this program? 0.3 FTE
7.	To the best of your knowledge, did this program originate in your state? Yes
	Are you aware of similar programs in other states? No
8.	Has the program been fully implemented? Yes
	If No, what actions remain to be taken?
	Although the program has been fully implemented, the site continues to grow. Over the next three months, we plan to add earthquake shaking hazard maps for two past bay Area earthquakes (1906 San Francisco and 1989 Loma Prieta) and two additional future scenarios (Monte Vista-Shannon and Peninsula- golden Gate San Andreas) funded as part of a USGS grant. We will be improving the data available on damage associated with each intensity level and on ways to use the maps appropriately. Finally, we will be adding extensive technical information on how to retrofit woodframe homes funded with FEMA funds made available by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. These activities are typical. We now have a policy of adding a small amount of money to all grant and contract applications to fund the publication of the information on our Internet site. Thus, next year we will be adding information and maps on liquefaction and more information on dealing with earthquake hazards and housing and transportation.
9.	Is there evidence that the program has been effective in achieving its stated purpose(s)? Briefly summarize evaluations (pro and con) of how well the program has addressed the defined problem(s) or issue(s).
	The original objective of increasing the visibility and access to ABAG's ground shaking hazard maps has been met. In spite of selling approximately 80,000 "hard copy" city maps from May 1995 through July 1996, this number is small compared to the over 260,000 "viewings" of these maps at our Internet site during the same period. These "viewings" were made by over 110,000 "customers" measured by number of "hits" on the ABAG Earthquake home page).
	The Internet site is a far quicker means of distribution than hard copies, and therefore provides immediate information while the user is thinking about the issue. In addition, may print media have downloaded copies of the maps for their local stories, making the stories both more eye-catching and more informative.
	The site continues to grow. The ABAG Earthquake Program "home page" received almost 13,000 hits during the May 1998. During the same month, specific pages (or "hits") exceeded 250,000, including 13,000 hits on shaking hazard maps, 330 hits on dam failure inundation area maps, and 524 hits on road closure maps. A total of 39 comments or questions were sent to "shaky."
	We are pleased that a recent survey of residents of the City of Alameda indicates that 15-20% had seen ABAG's shaking hazard maps for their city. We view our Internet site as a valuable component of that public education success.
10.	How has the program changed since its inception? What limitations or obstacles might other states expect to encounter if they attempt to adopt this program?
	The site was originally set up only as a source of ground shaking hazard maps. Now it contains extensive information on housing and transportation issues related to earthquakes in the Bay area as other Earthquake Program projects are added when they are completed. The site will continue to grow and change, as discussed under Question 8.
	Internet technology has changed dramatically in the four years of this project and will no doubt continue to do so. The JAVA-based crossword puzzle, for example, was not envisioned at the inception of the project but was added as technology evolved. The addition of features such as this keeps the site fresh and increases repeat visits and work-of-mouth enthusiasm about the site.
	Other organizations adopting a program that includes use of the Internet should not feel intimidated by the changing technology.