NEWS for June 2007

On June 29, USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project managers and coordinators met with representatives of City Palm Springs government to discuss their on-going work to create a plausible and useable earthquake scenario for southern California. The earthquake scenario will detail the impact of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the southernmost 300 km of the San Andreas fault.The earthquake was chosen by geologists as highly probable and one that would cause intense shaking in the Palm Springs area and moderate to strong shaking over much of southern California. Scientists working on the earthquake scenario plan to focus in depth on the scenario earthquake’s impact on two communities. This detailed information could be informative and helpful to nearby communities. City of Palm Springs, Emergency Manager, John Hardcastle hosted Dr.Lucy Jones, MHDP Chief Scientist, and earthquake scenario coordinators Dale Cox, MHDP Project Manager, Ken Hudnut, USGS Geophysicist, Keith Porter, Caltech Seismic Engineer, Rich Bernknopf, USGS Economist, Anne Wein, USGS Decision Support Scientist, and Dennis Mileti, Social Scientist from the University of Colorado. Earthquake scenario managers and coordinators explored what the community of Palm Springs might need from the earthquake scenario to improve their response to an actual event and how they might contribute to the scenarios value to other communities. Contact: Dale A.Cox, MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

Dr. Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) met with the President of the California Science Center, and the Science Center’s Deputy Director of Curriculum, on Monday, June 25 to discuss how the museum might partner with the on-going MHDP earthquake scenario to increase pubic awareness of earthquake safety issues. The meeting was organized by Dick McCarthy, Executive Director of the Seismic Safety Commission who also attend the meeting. The Science Center will work to develop displays and curriculum in California schools to teach earthquake preparedness. Contact: Dale A. Cox, MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

Dr. Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist of the of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) will present on-going efforts to create an earthquake scenario to the Southern California Leadership Network, in partnership with the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Jones will discuss earthquake risk to the Network’s “Leadership Southern California” program, in their efforts to develop a network of business, government, and community sector leaders who can take on the critical challenges facing our region. Contact: Dale A. Cox, MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209