| Home › WSSPC Publications › WSSPC Newsletter › Fall 1997 | › Contact Us |
|
| About WSSPC | WSSPC Members | Publications | Awards Program | Public Policy Center | WSSPC Events | What's New! |
|
|
From the Desk of the Executive Director We are wrapping up the Western States Seismic Policy Council's first year as an independent nonprofit organization, and it was an eventful year. Several new initiatives were undertaken by WSSPC in the past 12 months. The first change you may notice is the new look and content for this, the WSSPC newsletter. We have embarked on expanding the WSSPC newsletter into a journal for the earthquake and seismic hazards reduction community. EQ: Earthquake Quarterly will be published quarterly beginning in May of 1998. Our next newsletter will be in the old format, thereby allowing us adequate time to have an expanded edition ready to be delivered to your desk in the spring. In this our premiere issue we have included a series of articles on efforts being undertaken regarding disaster resistant communities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Institute for Business and Home Safety, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium and the Disaster Recovery Business Alliance have submitted articles detailing their efforts. Also, the winners of the WSSPC Awards in Excellence were recently chosen and we have provided you with description of the two overall winners' efforts and brief descriptions of the other award winners. As a regular feature we will focus on current legislative efforts from around our region and the nation. In this issue we focus on the proposed changes to the Stafford Act in Congress. In an on-going effort to provide you with information, we will include updates from WSSPC member agencies and from the members of the Earthquake Information Providers (EqIP) Group. We will also provide you with on extensive calendar listing of events for the seismic and hazards community
The Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys is compiling a database of geotechnical boreholes and well logs for the Anchorage area from public and private sources as the basis for a series of planned engineering-geologic maps and reports. To date, more than 4,000 logs have been located and indexed, including 1,500 well logs. Downhole data have been entered for nearly 700 of these logs. The first products to be generated using the database will be a set of geologic cross-sections and an accompanying geologic map. The database will be made available to the public on-line and on CD-ROM in fall 1998. Future planned products include maps of liquefaction susceptibility and NEHRP soil types. 794 University Ave. #200, Fairbanks AK 99709, (907)451-5000 The Arizona Division of Emergency Management’s earthquake preparedness program continues to make gains in public awareness. Sixty elementary and high school teachers have received training in "Seismic Sleuth" and "Tremor Troop". Arizona State University is conducting a seismic engineering study of the state’s primary and alternate emergency operations facilities. A seismic evaluation of critical and unreinforced masonry facilities in the Flagstaff community will be done by year-end. 5636 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, Arizona 85008-3495, (602) 244-0504 The British Columbia Geological Survey Branch (GSB, E&I) has completed a pilot mapping project in the Chilliwack area and is currently working on a map of the Capitol Regional District. In 1997-98, work in the Greater Vancouver Regional District will begin on a contract basis with the GSB as contract manager. This project addresses the need for earthquake hazard mapping in high seismic risk areas in the Lower Mainland (population 1.5 million). Future plans are to extend mapping to actively growing regions on the East Coast of Vancouver Island. P.O. Box 9320, Stn. Provincial Government Victoria B.C., Canada V8W 9N3 (250)952-0429 In addition to the ongoing public information provided through our Resource Center and the EQE Program publications, California Office of Emergency Services Earthquake Program is currently involved in a number of special projects: planning for post-earthquake housing provision, developing an implementation approach for coastal tsunami mitigation, analyzing the incentives and disincentives for seismic strengthening by building owners, working with Metropolitan Transit Commission on a post-earthquake transportation plan, and continuing the planning and training process with the participating organization in the California Post-earthquake Information Clearinghouse. 1300 Clay St., #400, Oakland, CA 94612, (510)286-0895 The legislature passed the Seismic Hazard Mapping Act in 1990 (AB 3897; Public Resources Code, Chapter 7.8, Sections 2690-2966.6), directing the California Division of Mines and Geology to prepare the maps. The purpose of the Act is to reduce threat to public health and safety and to minimize economic loss due to seismic hazards due to liquefaction and earthquake induced landsliding. The Act directs cities, counties and state agencies to use the zone maps in their land-use planning and permitting processes. A site-specific geotechnical report is required prior to permitting most urban developments within the zones. The Act also requires sellers or real property (or their agents) within the zones to disclose this fact to potential buyers. The guidelines were released on April 1, 1997 to aid local agencies in establishing land use management policies and ordinances to reduce and mitigate losses from ground failure during earthquakes. The maps and guidelines may also be useful to insurance companies, consultants, investors, and the public. The Division released six preliminary maps for public comment in October 1996. They covered five 1:24,000 quadrangles in Southern California (in Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties) and one quadrangle in the city of San Francisco. Five additional Southern California preliminary maps were released for comment in August 1997 and will become official in February 1998. Seven preliminary maps are being released in October 1997 and will become official in April 1998. Five of the seven preliminary maps are new and cover the LaHabra, Orange, Tustin, Laguna Beach, and Yorba Linda quadrangles. Two of the preliminary maps are revisions of the Anaheim and Newport Beach quadrangle maps originally released in April 1997. Twenty-three additional preliminary maps will be released between January and July of 1998. Ted Smith, Outreach Coordinator, (916)323-8596, smith@consrv.ca.gov, http://www.consrv.ca.gov. Because communication is an ever-important part of preparedness and mitigation Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services (BDS) is establishing a web presence: Developing the mitigation and earthquake pages continues to be a major focus. This summer, in addition to participating in the Idaho Geological Survey's teacher workshop in northern Idaho, BIDS supported a Tremor Troops workshop in southwestern Idaho, and is assisting the National Guard in developing a joint command post exercise based on an earthquake in southeastern Idaho. 4040 Guard Street, Boise, Idaho 883705, (208)334-3460 This summer the Idaho Geological Survey held the Earthquake Education field workshop in the Coeur d'Alene Valley. Over 60 teachers and families participated, learning about the tectonic setting of the region and observing the seismic monitoring of the Lewis and Clark Zone. Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services co-sponsors the workshop with the Idaho Earth Science Teachers Association, and representatives of FEMA Region X, and the Alaska Division of Emergency Services were active participants. Other IGS earthquake activities in 1997 include a shaking hazard analysis of the Idaho Falls area and an update of the state fault map. An active partnership with the Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services continues not only with earthquakes, but is expanding into landslide hazards. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, (208)885-7991 The Earthquake Studies Office of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology continued to expand the area of coverage of its regional seismograph network. The network now includes 29 seismograph stations spanning a 425 krn reach in the northern Intermountain Seismic Belt stretching from Flathead Lake in northwest Montana to Earthquake Lake near Yellowstone National Park. A total of 584 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than or equal to 1.0 were located from October 1, 1996 through September 1, 1997. In a cooperative effort with the U.S. GeologicalSurvey, the Bureau is in the early stages of publishing a new Quaternary fault map for Montana. We are wrapping up two National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program projects, One project, coordinated with the Idaho Geologic Survey, to improve our understanding of seismic hazards within the Lewis and Clark Zone involved deployment of nine additional seismographs to cover this west-central Montana-north Idaho zone. A second project provided support for a study of active seismic sources in southwest Montana. This project involved relocating earthquakes recorded during the past 15 years using an improved crustal velocity model and generating nearly 400 fault plane solutions. Montana Tech., 1300 West Park St., Butte, Montana 59701-8932, (406)496-4262 The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology and the Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno are preparing a 1:1,000,000-scale seismicity map of Nevada. With the help of funding from FEMA and the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, this map will be distributed to Nevada schools for Earthquake Awareness and Mitigation Week next April. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 20, Planning Scenario for a Major Earthquake in Western Nevada, is being widely used by the press and in emergency planning exercises. University of Nevada-Reno, MS 178, Reno, Nevada 89557-0088, (775) 784-6691 Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) is proceeding to implement mitigation strategies for a variety of geologic hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides. Earthquake hazards mapping and related risk analysis is underway in Eugene and beginning in Klamath Falls under the leadership of DOGAMI’s new earthquake team leader Mei Mei Wang. Public education is continuing in coastal communities where Angie Karel of DOGAMI and local business and government partners will be dedicating large tsunami information in Depoe Bay, Lincoln City, and Waldport in September and October. 800 NE Oregon St., #28, Ste. 965, Portland, Oregon 97232-2162, (503) 731-4600 Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) is completing the unfinished infrastructure assistance projects that were based on Damage Survey Reports from the 1993 Scotts Mills and Klamath earthquakes. OEM also prepared a final list of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program non-structural and incremental seismic retrofit projects in schools affected by the 1993 Scotts Mills earthquake and will conduct a workshop about the program for participating schools. OEM completed a tsunami hazard inventory and needs assessment for coastal communities with the assistance of local emergency managers. The inventory and assessment will be the basis for developing models and allocating funds for the second year of the Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Plan. OEM is assisting with the development of a volunteer school all-hazard disaster planning certification program scheduled to start January 1998. 595 Cottage St., N.E. Salem, OR 97310, (503) 378-2911 The Utah EPICenter of the Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management is co-sponsoring two programs for the next year with the Earthquake Education Services of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations. The first is a personalized, traveling display of historic earthquakes along the Intermountain Seismic Belt and earthquake preparedness. The second is a Utah-specific earthquake curriculum workshop for teachers. Using materials developed specifically for Utah, five workshops are scheduled across the state. 1110 State Office Building, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114. (801)538-3400 In 1997 the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) completed a series of publications that "translate" earthquake-hazards information for the general public, including general information brochures on geologic hazards, the Wasatch fault, and earthquake ground shaking, and a homebuyers guide. UGS finished Quaternary geologic mapping of the West Cache fault zone and Nephi segment of the Wasatch fault zone, and are cooperating with the Arizona Geological Survey to perform reconnaissance paleoseismic studies of the Hurricane fault zone in southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona. The UGS and Brigham Young University are producing a site-response map of the Salt Lake Valley showing the 1997 Uniform Building Code soil-profile types, based on surficial geologic mapping and geotechnical data. The UGS and Utah Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management provide staff for the Utah Seismic Safety Commission (USSC), which sponsored conferences in 1996 and 1997 and completed a progress report on 1994-1996 earthquake safety activities in Utah. P 0. Box 146100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84114-6100, (801)537-3300 EqIP Updates
California Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering California Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREe) is a non-profit organization, incorporated in 1988, made up of professors and researchers at eight California universities as well as other individual members from academia, industry, and professions that relate to earthquakes. Its purpose is the advancement of earthquake engineering research and education and related earthquake hazard reduction implementation efforts. Representative Current projects include: The SAC Joint Venture (SEAOC - ATC - CUREe), a FEMA-funded effort to solve the problem of fractures in welded steel moment frames, which surfaced in the 1994 Northridge earthquake
1301 S. 46th Street
The Institute for Business and Home Safety The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) is an initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters. IBHS works in five areas to accomplish this mission: public outreach, community land use, new building construction, retrofit of existing structures and information management. 73 Tremont Street, Suite 510
National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue The National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue (NIUSR) is heavily involved in the demonstration of an interlinking communication architecture for the coordination of response to extreme events. This project is known as X11 (eXtreme Information Infrastructure) and will be demonstrated in March at Hanscom AFB. P.O. Box 91648
The Southern California Earthquake Center The Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) actively coordinates research on Los Angeles region earthquake hazards and focuses on applying earth sciences to earthquake hazard reduction. Founded in 1991, SCEC is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Technology Center. Additional major funding is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, FEMA, and the State of California. The Center's goal is to develop a "Master Model" of the earthquake hazard in southern California. A variety of earth science data are integrated to generate earthquake scenarios and a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for the region. The goal of its Knowledge Transfer program is to promote ownership of the program among end-users by reaching consensus on end-user needs, and implementing identified priorities for product development, dissemination, and communication. We see this as an iterative process; both scientists and end-users are educating each other. The Center actively seeks to continuously promote and maintain collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships with its core institutions, affiliated institutions, local, state, and federal government agencies, and business and industry. We believe SCEC will make a significant contribution to society through a transportable Knowledge Transfer program which promotes the application of earth sciences and engineering practices to earthquake hazard reduction. University of Southern California
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute In 1997 Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) has embarked on a variety of projects. Planning is well underway for the 6th U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering to be held May 31 -June 4, 1998, in Seattle, Washington. With funding support from FEMA, EERI has organized a project to identify directions for the next ten years for FEMA's program on the seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings, as well as a project to develop an action plan to direct the development of guidelines for performance-based engineering. FEMA and the EERI Endowment Fund supported a workshop on improving seismic education training for the building trades and code enforcers. The EERI Endowment Fund is supporting several other projects, including a visiting professional program that places practitioners in universities and other host organizations for a several-day visit and the development of an EERI white paper on ethics and earthquakes. EERI is also undertaking a project for the California Office of Emergency Services to look at incentives and disincentives in decisions building-owners make regarding seismic mitigation and upgrading. Two technical seminars are planned for this fall in Alaska and in New York City. 499 14th St., Suite 320 The Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center The Natural Hazards Information Center at the University of Colorado is an international clearinghouse of information on NISEE's mission is to provide technical and research informa natural hazards and human adjustments to such risks. The center's primary goal is to increase communication among hazard/disaster researchers and the individuals, agencies, and organizations that are actively working to reduce disaster damage and suffering.The center carries out its mission in four principal areas: information dissemination, an annual workshop, research, and library services. The information dissemination program involves the publication of numerous monographs, working papers, bibliographies, and special publications; a printed newsletter, Hazards Observer, and an electronic newsletter, Disaster Research. The center also maintains an extensive World Wide Web site (www. colorado.edu/hazards) which now includes on-line access to the center library's bibliographic database. Campus Box 482 (510)231-9401
The Disaster Streamlining and Costs Reduction Act of 1997 On June 30,1997 legislation was submitted to the Senate to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Senator John Chafee (R-Rhode Island), by request, introduced the Disaster Streamlining and Costs Reduction Act to limit the cost of disaster relief and emergency assistance provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The bill has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. There it will undergo hearings to carefully review and modify it before it is brought again before Congress to be opened up to scrutiny by the States and disaster relief experts. The purpose of the Stafford Act is to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance by the Federal government to State and local governments to aid in alleviating the suffering and damage caused by disasters. In recent years, emergency assistance has grown increasingly more expensive. As a result, other Government programs have received reduced funding because they must compete directly for these funds. There are two main causes for increased spending in disaster relief. First, there has been a rise in the number of man-made and natural disasters possibly due to a higher frequency of violent storms combined with a growing number of citizens residing in coastal and riverine regions, making a larger number of the population vulnerable to floods. Second, by examining the number and types of facilities or entities eligible for aid and the management of monies, it is apparent that the implementation of the Stafford Act could be conducted in a more fiscally sound manner. This legislation attempts to address both these issues. This bill would establish new hazard mitigation authorities, reduce the public and private nonprofit facilities eligible for aid, and invoke management reforms to streamline the delivery of emergency assistance. New incentive programs for mitigation should limit or decrease the effects of disasters. Reforms and limits to eligibility should directly reduce cost. What follows is a summary of key amendments or additions in the Disaster Streamlining and Costs Reduction Act of 1997.
(b) To make pre-disaster mitigation grants
of not less than 75 percent of the cost of hazard mitigation measures to States and local
governments and to eligible private non-profit organizations.
Pending Legislation Disaster Insurance in Congress Disaster Insurance has become a hot topic in Washington with two bills pending before the House. One of the biggest problems facing homeowners in California and Florida is a lack of available hazards insurance and some feel the Federal government must take steps to resolve this pressing dilemma. A program needs to be created to make disaster insurance more accessible and affordable to homeowners. As an example of the seriousness of the hazard insurance problem, in a recent study conducted by the Independent Insurance Agents of America, 96 percent of the respondents stated that insurance companies are regularly refusing to renew policies in coastal markets. 89 percent cited the lack of affordable reinsurance coverage as the primary reason companies are leaving hurricane-prone markets. To address this problem, Representatives Rick Lazio (R-New York) and Bill McCollum (R-Florida) both have introduced similar bills designed to expand the insurance markets in disaster-prone areas. Rep. Lazio’s bill would provide coverage to state insurance pools only, while Rep. McCullum’s legislation would allow any insurance carrier to participate. Both would not only protect consumers but mortgage lenders as well, who also are at risk in the event of a disaster. Panel members testified before the housing and community opportunity subcommittee that a Federal natural disaster insurance program could give private insurers the incentive to stay in high-risk areas and to lower premiums. Gregory Butler, CEO of the California Earthquake Authority state, "We cannot prevent natural disasters, government and private industry can, however, help victims of earthquakes and hurricanes recover from the financial devastation that these disasters cause through preparation, mitigation and prudent financial planning." BILL WATCH: H.R. 230 – Natural Disaster Protection and Insurance
Act of 1997 (Rep. McCollum) Creating Disaster Resistant Communities By James L.Witt At the Federal Emergency Management Agency-and in State emergency management agencies across this country--we're learning the lesson that our mothers tried to teach us: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."' It's not enough to help victims after disaster has occurred. Not with disaster costs of $21.3 billion after 1989-not with the need that still remains after people's property has been restored but the fabric of their lives is still in tatters. We need to build communities strong enough to make disasters of all kinds less dangerous-and we need to help communities rebuild stronger than ever after disaster strikes. In emergency management, we call that work mitigation. For the first time ever, Congress has appropriated funds in this year's budget for mitigation projects before disasters happen. We received $2 million this year. We've requested $50 million next year. We have the full support of President Clinton, and leaders in Congress from both parties. And we plan to use these funds in support of FEMA:s newest initiative-Project Impact-promoting what we call "disaster resistant communities." The concept is simple: Help communities come together to identify the dangers they face-from floods to hurricanes to earthquakes. Then, determine how to reduce those risks. And then chart a course to do what must be done-to take what we call the mitigation action-to diminish those dangers and protect the community. There are four fundamental principles associated with this concept: 1. Communities must build a partnership of all elements of the community that can work together toward the common goal of saving lives and protecting property. 2. Communities must undertake a program of risk identification so that they clearly know the magnitude and types of threats that are faced every day. 3. Communities must identify what they are going to do to mitigate against and prepare for these threats and lay out a program to address these issues. 4. Finally, communities must get support to initiate these programs from all segments of their population. FEMA is currently working with seven communities around the country in the pilot phase of this initiative. We are also developing a "how-to" guidebook outlining how communities can become more disaster resistant. We need to get people accustomed to the idea of incorporating the principle of disaster prevention and mitigation into everyday operations and decision-making processes. Promoting the theme of preparedness and protection against disasters is a valuable message for people to incorporate into their workplaces and community actions. At FEMA, we are ready to offer assistance in every way; but communities must take the first step and then follow through. We know from experience what can happen if we don't focus on the threats that face us-the magnitude of our losses in recent years is a clear example of that. It's now time for us to focus on what can be done to lessen the impact of those losses, to work within our communities to focus attention on preparedness and mitigation, to foster public support for these programs, and to make them a part of our day-to-day lives.
The IBHS Showcase Communities By Harvey G. Ryland American ingenuity has produced stainresistant carpeting and scratch-resistant kitchen counters. Today, many communities in the United States are using that same ingenuity to make themselves disaster resistant. That is, they're taking specific, creative steps to avoid the emotional and financial devastation of earthquakes, floods or other natural disasters. And considering the spate of natural catastrophes we've experienced in the last decade, it's not a moment too soon. The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) intends to make natural disaster mitigation as important a public value as auto safety is today. One of the ways we're doing this is through our Showcase Communities program, which demonstrates the benefits of a community-wide natural disaster mitigation program. IBHS is an insurance industry initiative to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by wind storms, earthquakes, floods, hail storms and wildfires. In our Showcase Communities program, we will establish partnerships with government, business, civic, voluntary and professional associations to develop a comprehensive mitigation strategy that includes incentives for incorporating mitigation into new construction and retrofitting existing structures. The program also includes disaster awareness and education projects to heighten understanding of the hazards the communities face and what they can do to protect their citizens. Evansville, Indiana, became our first Showcase Community in July. In the coming months, IBHS will use the experience gained in Evansville and communities in Florida and Massachusetts to test 14 criteria. We will ask communities to:
Within the architectural, development, home design and building, academic, engineering, government, home improvement, mortgage lending, realty and insurance communities we have the expertise-and ingenuity-to reduce the huge toll inflicted by natural disasters. Together we can enable people to live and work in an atmosphere of personal safety, financial security and social stability. Disaster Recovery Gains
Momentum By Stephen Baruch Under the Disaster Planning and Mitigation Technologies (DP&MT) Program, managed by Ralph Bernstein, the Electric Power Research Institute is forming Disaster Recovery Business Alliancessm (DRBAsm) around the country in a continuing effort to help lifeline organizations, major employers, communities and businesses prepare for and recover from the effects of human-caused and natural disasters. DRBAs bring together utilities, government agencies, insurance providers, and the business community to plan for market recovery and restoration of lifeline systems following disasters. These alliances provide ongoing research and development into the role of the private sector in mitigating losses from disasters. They also establish liaisons at national and international levels with public agencies, private companies, researchers, and trade associations to advance shared goals of hazard mitigation on behalf of communities and essential business services. Unique to DRBAs is their focus on restoration and optimization of normal commercial channels in contrast to disaster relief or emergency response. Lifeline organizations and their customers are seeing the value of using technologies and alliances to minimize the impact of disasters on their business communities. In addition to reducing the financial losses and emotional strain associated with disasters, DRBAs are a cost-effective way for major employers to establish a close, working relationship with valuable customers. To date, four DRBA partnerships have been launched. These agreements bring together Central and Southwest Corp. and Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Memphis/Shelby County, Tennessee; Carolina Power & Light Co. and Wilmington/New Hanover County, North Carolina; and Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Co. and Evansville/Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Additional alliances are being developed with San Diego Gas & Electric and San Diego County, California. Another five alliances are also planned. In the TVA /Memphis alliance, EPRI, TVA, local government agencies, and Memphis businesses have teamed together to form the Memphis Disaster Recovery Business Alliance. "We've been working with businesses and the community to put something like this together for some time," says Don Batchelor, Chair of Memphis' Business Emergency Preparedness Council. "With EPRI and TVAs help, we were able to pull in support from other major businesses and make the Memphis DRBA a reality." The Memphis DRBA works on the premise that governments and businesses have overlapping roles and resource needs when it comes to protecting community assets. Protection of these assets is best achieved when all the players know each other in advance, understand the resource and information capabilities of each other, and have a clear understanding of the impact that certain emergencies have on shared values and assets. The Memphis organization is also establishing a business continuity strategy for the entire Memphis/Shelby county economy, including public infrastructure and private enterprise. The popularity of DRBAs highlights the present leadership position of lifeline organizations and major employers in spearheading disaster mitigation and recovery efforts. We are creating partnerships where businesses and communities are better prepared to help themselves and each other in case of a disaster. In related news, DP&MT continues to sign statements of understanding for collaborative studies, the latest with the Institute for Business and Home Safety and is exploring similar arrangements with the International City/County Managers' Association, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the American Red Cross. For more information, contact Stephen Baruch at (650)855-8912, sbaruch @ epri. com. Disaster Recovery Business AIliance and DRBA are service marks of EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. EPRI manages the Alliance in cooperation with, and on behalf of Alliance co-founders. By Tom Durham As our nation continues to experience escalating losses from natural disasters, it is increasingly apparent that a new approach to hazard mitigation is needed-one that emphasizes pre-disaster mitigation, community and business sector involvement in mitigation activities, and the use of incentives to promote meaningful steps and measures to reduce vulnerability of our communities to earthquakes, flooding, severe weather and other natural hazards. "Disaster resistant communities" is a term that has been used to describe this long-range, community-based approach to hazard mitigation. Disaster "resistance" is an objective. A community may be considered "resistant," for example, when after a major disaster there is a minimal loss of life and limited interruption of public services; the private sector is able to resume business operations in a timely manner; the community is able to manage the response operations, with State assistance, in a timely manner; and the community is able to recover to at least pre-disaster conditions in an accelerated, ordered, pre-planned manner. In essence, disaster resistance and community self-sufficiency are closely linked. Evansville, Indiana In an effort to further develop the disaster resistant community concept-and its "real world application"-the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) embarked on a pilot disaster resistant community project that targeted Evansville, Indiana, a community of 150,000 located at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers in the southern part of the state. Evansville was selected primarily because of a demonstrated commitment to mitigation practices during the past decade. To launch the project, a workshop was held on April 15-16 that brought together a multi-disciplinary group of hazards specialists, emergency managers, and community leaders-public and private-to "develop a model disaster resistant community program that will, when implemented, significantly reduce the vulnerability of Evansville to future natural disasters." A Disaster Resistant Community Model To guide the planning and decision-making for the development of a "disaster resistant community" (DRC), CUSEC has developed a model that is designed to bring together key community officials-public, private, non-profit, professional, and others-to develop a local mitigation strategy that is organized around at least six program or goal areas. Hazard and Risk Assessment - Each DRC should have a comprehensive, updated (preferably GIS based) Hazard and Risk Assessment that will provide a baseline of information on community and business vulnerability. The HAZUS loss estimation methodology, which will be expanded to include flood and wind hazards, can become an integral feature of a DRC program. Education and Public Outreach - Each DRC should have a program and strategy in place to raise the public awareness of natural hazards, and measures that can be taken to improve disaster preparedness and promote mitigation. Community Land Use - Each DRC should have an officially adopted land use plan that identifies hazard-prone areas, and policies and procedures to limit development in these areas. Existing Development - Each DRC should have an officially adopted strategy for reducing the vulnerability of existing development. The strategy should include performance objectives for essential facilities, public facilities, and high occupancy buildings. New Development - Each DRC should have an officially adopted policy and implementation strategy to minimize the vulnerability of new construction to natural disasters, so that we do not add to the problem of exposure to hazards. Business Vulnerability Reduction - Each DRC should have a business preparedness and recovery strategy that is the product of collaboration between the business community and local government This strategy should have clearly defined objectives, have executive support from business and government, and identify and prioritize actions that can be implemented to reduce long-term vulnerability of businesses to natural disasters. Evansville's Disaster Resistant Community Program With the "CUSEC DRC Model" as a frame of reference, and the April 15-16 workshop as a "springboard," Evansville has made giant strides-at least organizationally-toward developing their own version of a disaster resistant community. From the workshop emerged twenty six recommendations-organized under the six program or goal areas. A Steering Committee was formed and met for the first time on May 21 to review and pnioritize the recommendations. The following initiatives will shape the Evansville DRC program, at least in the formative stages. 1. Apply to Become a Showcase Community
-
Administered by the Institute for Business and Home Safety (formerly the Insurance
Institute for Property Loss Reduction), the Showcase Community program recognizes
communities that demonstrate a commitment to mitigation through the adoption of a
resolution by local government to pursue fourteen program requirements (e.g., to adopt the
latest model building code without modification). 2. Form a Business Alliance - Evansville has established a "Disaster Recovery Business Alliance," elected a local insurance executive as its first chairman, and raised approximately $60,000 to get the Alliance started. An organizational meeting was held on August 28, and among the programs identified for implementation include the application of the HAZUS loss estimation software program to "develop a hazard vulnerability baseline" for the community. 3. Launch an Awareness Campaign - To promote a greater local awareness of this new program, the local Fox affiliate, WTVW, produced a four-part series on the vulnerability of Evansville to natural and technological disasters, and the role and benefits of the DRC program. There are numerous other initiatives that are either under way, or in the planning stages (e.g., construction by a local builder of a two-story dwelling that incorporates and demonstrates seismic design and construction features to be on display for the next year). In the final analysis, it is important to acknowledge that the disaster resistant community program is long term-it will take years if not decades to make meaningful progress in reducing the vulnerability of hazardous buildings that constitute up to 70 percent of the building stock in downtown areas of communities like Evansville. The value of the DRC program and approach to development is that it brings together the disciplines and leadership that is necessary to sustain a program such as this. NSF Funds Research Centers In Califomia, Illinois and NewYork The National Science Foundation (NSF) has named three centers to conduct and coordinate earthquake engineering research for the nation. They will be located at the Universities of Illinois and California and the State University of NewYork in Buffalo. "These new centers are needed to extend our understanding of the impacts of seismic events on buildings, roads, bridges, energy sources and other components of our built environment and societal institutions," says William A. Anderson, director of NSFs earthquake mitigation program. "The 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes in the U.S. and the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake in Kobe, Japan were grim reminders of the continuing vulnerability of many parts of the world to strong earthquakes," Anderson says. "The knowledge gained through these research centers and shared with engineers, architects and planners will help reduce earthquake hazards and save lives." The new contracts call for NSF to invest $2 million a year for five years to each of the three centers: the University of California (UC) at Berkeley's Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center; the University of Illinois Mid-America Earthquake Center at the Urbana-Champaign campus; and the State University of New York at Buffalo's (UB) Center for Advanced Technologies Earthquake Loss-Reduction. The centers are expected to match the federal funds, dollar-for-dollar, with funds from non-federal sources, and to develop significant cooperation and interactions with industry and government organizations that are key stakeholders in reducing earthquake hazards. Each of the centers will form a consortium of public and private institutions committed to integrated research and education activities. The centers will use a team approach to draw on experts in a range of fields including engineering, geology, geophysics and the social sciences. NSF selected the centers for their individual and complementary strengths. The California research center, directed by civil engineer Jack P. Moehle, will develop technologies to reduce urban earthquake losses. The Illinois center, led by civil engineer Daniel P. Abrams, will emphasize reducing potential earthquake losses in the central and eastern U.S. by concentrating on problems associated with low frequency seismic events. The New York center, led by civil engineer George C. Lee, will focus on the application of advanced and emerging technologies to reduce earthquake losses. Improved performance loss assessment of buildings and civil infrastructure will be explored, as will rehabilitation of critical facilities, and emergency response and recovery. In 1986, NSF awarded UB a five-year grant to establish the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER), following a national competition. In 1991, NSF renewed that grant and awarded another five-year grant to establish the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California. With its new 1997 grants, NSF seeks the most comprehensive knowledge attainable about earthquake mitigation. M Natural Hazards Insurance Summit The Board of Directors of WSSPC has approved hosting a Natural Hazards Insurance Summit to be held in the summer of 1998. The Council of State Governments-WEST (CSG-WEST) will co-sponsor this event. The mission of the Natural Hazards Insurance Summit is to bring together scientists and emergency managers with insurance industry representatives and state and national policy-makers for the purpose of developing and encouraging the implementation of a set of policy options designed to address issues surrounding natural hazard insurance. A development committee is currently laying out a plan of action and establishing the focus and purpose for this event. For more information contact the WSSPC office. |
| Contact Us 801 K Street, Suite 1436 Sacramento, CA 95814 | tel 916-444-6816 | fax 916-444-8077 | email wsspc@wsspc.org |
| © 2006 Western States Seismic Policy Council. All Rights Reserved. Last updated April 16, 2007 |