T255 Reaching New Peaks in Geoscience: Geoscience in the Service of a Sustainable Future (Posters)

Wednesday, 3 November 2010
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Hall D

WORKING TOWARD PUBLIC SAFETY BY INVOLVEMENT IN ADVISORY COUNCILS: AN ARKANSAS CASE STUDY FOR EARTHQUAKES AND OTHER NATURAL HAZARDS

Paper number: T255-7
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Authors

Abstract

Arkansas presents an opportunity for others to learn about the role geoscientists can play in local, state and regional efforts toward public safety and professional community service. Arkansas has had an Earthquake Advisory Council (AGEAC) since 1984, making it the oldest seismic advisory council in the central United States. The expertise of its members reflects a broad cross-sectional representation from industry (e.g. insurance), state agencies (e.g. geology, parks, and transportation), academia (geologists and civil engineers), military branches, emergency first responders, and those whose efforts provide community infrastructure. We provide informed advice to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, providing needed leverage for change and progress. This Council works to achieve seismic and mitigation program implementation in the state. Arkansas is a member state of the Central U. S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC). Another group is the Arkansas Pre-Disaster Mitigation Advisory Council (APDMAC), which provides similar services to the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program at the state-level with a mission to address all natural hazards in addition to seismic.

Joint Council meetings provide a forum for local, state and regional partners to meet and disseminate information on response and recovery planning; resource acquisition; public education and awareness; promotion, mitigation, and research associated with earthquake preparedness. Joint Council meetings have also provided invaluable information towards the State Hazard Mitigation plan revision. Actions include: passage of the State Seismic Building Code (Act 1100 of 1991), revision of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, HAZUS-MH software upgrades and use in emergency planning, the New Madrid Seismic Zone Catastrophic Planning Initiative, change to previous planning areas and it’s implications to counties not previously covered, and other non-NMSZ earthquake research. A new addition to earthquake hazards studies support is the Arkansas Seismic Network (ASN). This network consists of six state-of-the-art permanent broadband seismic stations strategically placed within selected State Parks across Arkansas. The ASN was funded through the Arkansas Governor’s General Improvement Fund.