Skip to content

Nature

Report Calls For Improved Earthquake Resilience in USA

by Mike Campbell 25 Apr 2011
Report Calls For Improved Earthquake Resilience in USA

The continental USA sits on the North American Plate which shares near coastal boundaries with the Caribbean and Pacific Plates and two smaller tectonic plates. Earthquakes are a geological fact of life in America, but the nation has escaped a major earthquake for more than 100 years and this, according to a report by the National Research Council (NRC) has led to a false sense of security in Americans. America has suffered moderate to strong earthquakes in recent decades, but these have struck in sparsely populated regions.

The report was largely prepared before the devastating magnitude 9 earthquake and ensuing tsunami struck Japan on 11/03/11, but points out that Japan is regarded as the best prepared nation for earthquake resilience.

The committee pointed out that a recent earthquake scenario for Los Angeles, involving a magnitude 7.8 event predicted ''staggering losses''; it also noted how Hurricane Katrina had demonstrated the lack of disaster resilience in the USA.

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NHERP) was established in 1977 as a multiagency program led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and including the US Geological Survey, the National Science Foundation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The NRC report outlines a 20 year plan designed to improve America's resilience to a major earthquake and endorses the NEHRP 2008 strategic plan which involves an 18 task ''road map'' to develop the nation's capacity to recover quickly from a major earthquake and ensure continuance of important community functions. It highlights the need to diffuse the expertise gained by NHERP into communities at risk from an earthquake.

NEHRP received $129.7 million in funding in 2009 and the cost of providing greater earthquake resilience to America is put at $306 million annually for the first five years of the plan. In the continuing aftermath of the global financial crisis, it may be difficult to obtain the funding, but if the costs are set against the estimated costs in Japan for reconstruction following the March 2011 quake of $309 billion, the cost of failing to make the investment are likely to be far greater.

The ''road map'' of 18 items calls, amongst other things, for the deployment of the remaining 75% of the advanced, national seismic detection system which provides magnitude and location information on seismic events and would underpin many of the other tasks. Other areas include research into making new buildings more resilient to quakes and enhancing the resilience of existing structures. The report also calls for new standards to ensure that lifeline services (electricity, highways water supply) would continue to function after an earthquake. Certainly, the tragedy which befell Japan on 11th March will concentrate minds in many earthquake prone regions.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping