Oral Presentation

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Science Application for Risk Reduction (SAFRR) project (formerly the Multi-Hazard Demonstration Project) developed scenarios for earthquakes (ShakeOut, HayWired), winter storm (ARkStorm) and tsunami (SAFRR Tsunami) with researchers from multiple disciplines (e.g., physical and social scientists, engineers) and various practitioners (e.g., emergency managers, regional planners). While the scenario process evolved for different disasters, locations, and impacts, they were influenced by research of actual current events (e.g., communication of aftershock forecasts during the Canterbury, Aotearoa, New Zealand, earthquake sequence). Also, the scenarios provided a platform for further developments with researchers (e.g., the SimCenter) and responding to practitioner questions (e.g., the sensitivity of liquefaction to sea-level rise). In the context of the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC)’s proposed geographical expansion from southern California to the rest of California, I demonstrate (1) the essential foundation of the best available science for translation into risks, (2) geographical considerations of societal consequences, (3) intertwined research and outreach processes, and (4) outreach with the SCEC-founded Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA). In conclusion, co-production of knowledge increases the value of earthquake process science and outreach informs earthquake risk reduction. It requires coordinating multidisciplinary research and communications with diverse partners.