USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project » Calendar

City of Torrance

admin — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:50:49 +0000

On July 27, Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) Chief Scientist, Dr. Lucy Jones and MHDP Project Manager, Dale Cox, met with City of Torrance, City Manager, LeRoy J. Jackson, and Assistant City Manager, Mary Giordano, to discuss the possible involvement of the City of Torrance in the southern California Earthquake Scenario. The earthquake scenario is focusing in depth on two communities to describe in depth the varying physical, economic, and societal impacts related to their proximity to the fault rupture. The differences in economic base, physical structures, social fabric, and geology will effect each communities resiliency to catastrophe. MHDP researchers are already working with the City of Palm Springs. Following this meeting,The City of Torrance agreed to take part in the scenario. Contact: Dale Alan Cox, USGS MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

Team SAFE-T

admin — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:51:52 +0000

On July 23, Dr. Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist, and Dale Cox, Project Manager, of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) met Hillary Mendelsohn, Director of Team SAFE-T (School and Family Emergency Training), an alliance of public and private organizations dedicated to integrating safety and preparedness in schools throughout California. The meeting was held to develop partnerships between Team SAFE-T and the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration to develop school-based educational materials that teach age-appropriate emergency information and preparedness skills for students in grades K-12. Team SAFE-T is the a key component of the â€œBe Smart, Be Responsible, Be Prepared. Be Ready!â€? campaign, for which California First Lady Maria Shriver, is the Honorary Chair. Contact: Dale Alan Cox, USGS MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

EQ Scenario Expert Panels

admin — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:08:08 +0000

The USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) convened a series of expert panels to better understand the physical damages that will likely occur following a magnitude 7.8 scenario earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault. The panels took place on July 30 and August 1 at Caltech and included emergency managers and engineers associated with southern California electrical utilities, dams, and water resources, as well as academics, and scientists from the USGS. The earthquake scenario, the first major product of the USGS MHDP, will describe in detail what will happen in a future southern San Andreas Fault earthquake, including the secondary hazards triggered by the earthquake, such as fires and landslides. Dr. Keith Porter, an engineering researcher at Caltech coordinating the physical damages section the MHDP earthquake scenario led the panels with MHDP Chief Scientist, Lucy Jones, and MHDP Project Manager, Dale Cox leading the discussion to explore and fill vulnerabilities in the various lifelines. Future panels beginning in September will discuss earthquake vulnerabilities related to transportation, mass transit, hospitals, pipelines, railroads, and ports. The scenario will support decision making by both the emergency response community as well as longer term planning, by examining the range of consequences from the direct physical impact to the social, cultural, environmental, and economic consequences. The scenario will also consider what factors will determine whether the event is a disaster, that disrupts the community but can be recovered from within a few years, or a catastrophe, in which it will take decades to recover. The scenario document will form the basis for a November 2008 statewide earthquake response exercise that will help to improve community resiliency to these hazards. Contact: Dale Alan Cox, USGS MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop

admin — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:03:20 +0000

Dr. Lucy Jones has will give the closing speech at the Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop in Boulder, Colorado on July 11. The four day workshop is hosted by the Natural Hazards Center in Boulder, Colorado. The invitational Hazards Research and Applications Workshop brings together nearly 400 emergency officials, hazards researchers, disaster planner, and others to share new information and trends in the effort to reduce loss and suffering from hazards.

Geospatial Preparedness Education

admin — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:38:24 +0000

In times of disaster, accurate and up-to-date geospatial information is critical to the emergency management community. According to the recent National Academy of Science publication titled, Successful Response Starts with a Map “necessary data are scattered among numerous agencies, there are many impediments to rapid access, the skilled personnel needed to work with the data and tools are often not available in sufficient quantity, and the technological environment is changing constantly, causing endless confusion.” On July 23, Dr. Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist, and Dale Cox, Project Manager, of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) will meet with Jack Dangermond, Founder and President of ESRI, Inc. and Jordan Henk, Director of the Redlands Institute, to discuss the formation of a geospatial preparedness educational center in southern California to help fill gaps in geospatial preparedness in southern California. Contact: Dale A. Cox, MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

Seismic Safety Commission

admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:40:30 +0000

On August 9, the California Seismic Safety Commission will meet in Palm Springs to discuss the seismic risk of the Coachella Valley. Dr. Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist of the of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) will present to the local government officials details about the on-going earthquake scenario. The MHDP is detailing the consequences of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake of the southern section of the San Andreas Fault. The earthquake presented in this scenario would have devastating impacts on Coachella Valley. Dr. Jones will be seeking community involvement in the creation of the scenario. Contact: Dale A. Cox, MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

Regional Earthquake Awareness and Preparedness Conference

admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 20:20:49 +0000

To raise awareness of what local governements can do to develop earthquake mitigation measures, on August 8 the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and the City of Los Angeles Department of Emergency Preparedness are jointly sponsoring a Regional Earthquake Awareness and Preparedness Conference titled, “Dare to Prepare, Secure Your City and Community”. Dr. Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist of the of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) will be the keynote speaker detailing on-going efforts to create a plausible and usable earthquake scenario for southern California. Representatives from 187 cities and six counties will be attending the conference. Contact: Dale A. Cox, MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

Riverside Co. Emergency Management

admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 20:17:16 +0000

The effects of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake will vary depending on where your are in relation to the fault and your geology. Social and economic impacts will have varying impacts as well. A scenario-sized earthquake on the southern section of the San Andreas Fault would have devastating consequences for Riverside County. On July 11, Dr. Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist of the of the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project (MHDP) will meet with the heads of emergency management for 24 cities of Riverside County to discuss the earthquake scenario and the “Shakeout” emergency management disaster rehearsal planned for November 2008. Contact: Dale A. Cox, MHDP Project Manager, 916-997-4209

City of Palm Springs Meeting

admin — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:31:46 +0000

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 earthquakeâ€™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

California Science Center

admin — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:09:30 +0000

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