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February 2004                                                              Volume 6 - Number 1

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Earthquake...

Western States Seismic Policy Council

Andrew McBride

The mission of the Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) is to help reduce future earthquake losses by providing a forum to advance earthquake programs throughout the western regions of the US and Canada and by developing and facilitating the implementation of seismic policies and programs through information exchange, research application and education.

WSSPC provides a multidisciplinary forum to enhance and create opportunities for seismic hazards mitigation. The council’s main goals are to promote regional cooperation and interaction between emergency managers and geoscientists in the formation of and advocacy for seismic policy and to raise awareness at all levels of earthquake hazards and methods to mitigate the associated risks; to develop strategies to enhance earthquake preparedness, and support earthquake studies and earthquake preparedness activities that will reduce or eliminate deaths, injuries and property damage that result from earthquakes.

WSSPC has been at the forefront of efforts to develop effective communication systems, realistic strategies and successful mitigation actions at state and local levels, with the goal of reducing the losses incurred by communities following earthquakes. Through sponsorship of conferences such as “Toward Earthquake Loss Reduction”, “Earthquake Risk: From Awareness to Action”, and “Seismic Risk Communication: Creating Greater Public Awareness and Action” WSSPC has successfully provided forums for federal, state and local agencies, as well as communities, businesses and research establishments to share best practices, effective systems and procedures as well as policy implementation.

Approximately 70% of WSSPC’s funding is from FEMA. At a recent strategic planning session, the funding goal was modified to seek more diversified and sustainable funding sources. Through their outreach activities, WSSPC has begun partnering with private industry to increase awareness of the importance of the business continuity function after an earthquake, and is focused on involving the private sector at the 2004 National Earthquake Conference in St. Louis.

WSSPC has been an advocate of federal activities in the earthquake mitigation arena for many years and has supported efforts such as the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS), a nationwide network of shaking measurement systems that provide real-time earthquake information and high-quality data to understand earthquake processes and solid earth structure and dynamics. WSSPC has also worked to support policy initiatives of the USGS, California Geological Survey and the California Seismic Safety Commission.

WSSPC was instrumental in building support for the Nevada Legislature Assembly Bill 57. The bill is aimed at reducing earthquake risks by directing the “adoption of the seismic provisions of the International Building Code and establishing standards for the investigation of earthquake hazards, including liquefaction” (JG Price & CM dePolo, Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology, Earthquake Quarterly, Summer 2003). WSSPC was active in supporting the bill which is in line with WSSPC’s Policy Recommendation 01-4.

Patricia Sutch, Executive Director of WSSPC, said that the organization has already met or exceeded the goals from their 2001-2003 strategic plan. As WSSPC continues to address the challenges of future earthquakes, the organization continues to provide forums, outreach and policy development while expanding their recognition of effective earthquake programs in the western states.