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A quick referral today to the first of a 2-part blog written by Tammy Dickinson and David Applegate of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on the earthquake threat here in the United States.
Understanding Earthquakes and Their Impacts: Part I
Posted by Tammy Dickinson and David Applegate on May 10, 2011 at 10:46 AM EDT
Ed. Note: This is the first of a two-part blog focusing on the science and aftermath of earthquakes. Part I focuses on the science of a high-magnitude earthquake and whether one could happen in the United States. Tomorrow, Part II will focus on What We Can Do About It.
Part I: Could a 9.0 Happen Here?
Four deadly earthquakes in just over a year—Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, and now Japan—have provided sudden reminders of the tectonic forces active beneath our feet. Perhaps more importantly, they serve as reminders that disasters resulting from those earthquakes are not the work of nature alone. Even in the face of such giant forces, societal decisions before and after an earthquake can have a major impact on the amount of damage, lives lost, and other outcomes. So while scientists and engineers share in society’s obligation to help the victims, we have an additional responsibility to learn from these events and share lessons that can be applied to vulnerable communities—not only abroad, but also here in the United States.
Given the risks, this year the United States government will conduct a National Level Exercise (NLE 2011) that will help to prepare and coordinate a multiple-jurisdictional integrated response to a national catastrophic event.
NLE 2011, which will be held this month (May), will simulate a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).
FEMA describes the exercise as:
NLE 2011 is a White House directed Congressionally-mandated exercise that includes the participation of all appropriate federal department and agency senior officials, their deputies and staff; and key operational elements. NLE 2011 will focus on regional catastrophic response and recovery activities between federal, regional, state, tribal, local and private sector participants.
For more on NLE 2010 you can visit FEMA’s Factsheet.
National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011)
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