The NEHRP post-earthquake investigations program
Michael L. BlanpiedSubmitted September 7, 2025, SCEC Contribution #14599, 2025 SCEC Annual Meeting Poster #TBD
Post-earthquake scientific and engineering investigations are undertaken to capture critical information to understand the causes and impacts of the event, lessons from which can substantially improve resilience after future earthquakes. The four-agency National Seismic Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP), the U.S. government’s coordinated program to reduce risks from earthquakes, investigates significant domestic and international earthquakes to learn lessons that can be applied to reduce future earthquake losses. Such investigations involve work of the NEHRP Agencies (NIST, FEMA, NSF and USGS) in their respective areas of responsibility, and various other responding agencies, organizations, and groups. The USGS is the lead agency for activating and coordinating such investigations.
A plan for the coordination of investigations is presented in USGS Circular 1542 “Plan To Coordinate Post-Earthquake Investigations Supported by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)” <https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/cir1542>. The Plan describes the activation and coordination of the four designated NEHRP Agencies, and also coordination between NEHRP Agencies and other organizations that may participate, including other Federal agencies; State, regional, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies; domestic nongovernmental organizations; academic institutions; private companies; foreign agencies and organizations; and international organizations. The Plan delineates the coordination of scientific and engineering investigations to document the direct, indirect, and cascading physical and societal impacts from fault rupture and ground shaking hazards and from secondary hazards such as landslides, liquefaction, and tsunamis. In addition, the Plan identifies pre-event activities to ensure that investigations are executed effectively.
When a significant earthquake occurs the NEHRP Agencies determine if full support of NEHRP is warranted, and if so, stand up an ad-hoc Earthquake Investigation Committee (EIC). The focus of the EIC is to coordinate broad-based investigations by engaging with active investigators and creating an opportunity for them to communicate in real time and to share investigation plans, details about data gathered, and lessons learned. The EIC utilizes results to support an analysis of key lessons, which are to be communicated widely through summary reports, workshops, public messaging, or other means.
Key Words
Post-earthquake investigations, NEHRP, resilience
Citation
Blanpied, M. L. (2025, 09). The NEHRP post-earthquake investigations program. Poster Presentation at 2025 SCEC Annual Meeting.
Related Projects & Working Groups
Applied Science Implementation (ASI)
