The recent Hurricane Katrina disaster highlights the importance of being prepared for and responding to natural hazards. Thus, it is imperative to prepare the public and their communities in advance to minimize the loss of life and property. The briefing will show how the public can become involved in monitoring earthquake shaking, how to design and build earthquake-resistant structures and how to protect our infrastructure, including communications, oil and gas pipelines, and water and sewage systems. The briefing will also address how to respond to an earthquake after it happens, providing information on emergency response systems and personal safety.
The Congressional Hazards Caucus Coalition Briefing will be moderated by Linda Rowan, Director of the Government Affairs Program at the American Geological Institute, and will include four speakers from a variety of organizations.
David Wald of the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo., will discuss Rapid Earthquake Information: Citizen Science and New Tools for Emergency Response.
Clifford J. Roblee, a geotechnical engineer with the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Consortium, Inc. in Davis, Calif., will talk on How to Design and Build More Earthquake-Resistant and Cost-Effective Structures.
Stuart Nishenko, a Pacific Gas and Electric Power Company seismologist in San Francisco, Calif., will discuss Most Cost-effective Approaches to Monitor Seismic Response in Buildings and Lifelines and How to Protect Vital Infrastructure.
Russ Paulsen, an emergency manager with the American Red Cross in Washington, DC, will present on How to Prepa
'"/>
Contact: Linda Rowan
rowan@agiweb.org
703-379-2480 x228
American Geological Institute
12-Sep-2005