The 2016 National Earthquake Conference (NEC) is scheduled for May 4-6, 2016 in Long Beach, California. Registration is now open at www.earthquakeconference.org.

The NEC is a quadrennial event providing a unique opportunity for academia, building code experts, design/build professionals, FEMA Directorates, first responders, geologists, local emergency managers, insurance and reinsurance professionals, local and tribal governments, private sector interests, public information officers, state government leaders, social science practitioners, U.S. State and Territorial Earthquake Managers, USGS leadership, and volunteers to share the latest advances in earthquake science, best practices for outreach and education, building science and code advancement, and policy initiatives that improve resiliency.

For more information, visit www.earthquakeconference.org

FEMA recently announced the availability of HAZUS-MH 3.0, the latest iteration of their multi-hazard loss estimation software.  HAZUS-MH 3.0 includes several updates including:

• Migration of the current database structure away from the Access (.mdb) and Personal Geodatabase (pGDB) format to SQL Spatial format
• Migration of all VB6 code in the flood model to a combination of C# and .NET
• Support for both homogeneous and dasymetric state data, with dasymetric data now serving as the default for analysis
• Alignment with the Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) tool (pushed from Task 2)
• Updated, SQL-compatible version of CDMS
• Repair of four major defects in block-level aggregation, and the flood and hurricane models

For more information, see  HAZUS 3.0 Updates at USEHAZUS.com.

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), which was first authorized by Congress in 1977, coordinates the earthquake-related activities of the Federal Government. The goal of NEHRP is to mitigate earthquake losses in the United States through basic and directed research and implementation activities in the fields of earthquake science and engineering. Under NEHRP, FEMA is responsible for developing effective earthquake risk reduction tools and promoting their implementation, as well as supporting the development of disaster-resistant building codes and standards. FEMA’s NEHRP activities are led by the FEMA Headquarters (HQ), Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Risk Reduction Division, Building Science Branch, in strong partnership with other FEMA HQ Directorates, and in coordination with the FEMA Regions, the States, the earthquake consortia, and other public and private partners. This report describes selected FEMA NEHRP accomplishments (HQ and Regional), followed by highlights from the States and U.S. territories and organizations which received FEMA support for NEHRP activities. The accomplishments described in this report showcase how FEMA and its partners, working in collaboration, continued to make progress toward earthquake loss-reduction nationwide.

Direct Download: http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1445956390866-521590815d20178f79eba957fa0a7b44/NEHRP_Report_FY2014.pdf

Source: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/33730

The National Awards in Excellence are awarded every four years at the National Earthquake Conference (NEC) by WSSPC in partnership with the Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC), the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), and the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW). These awards recognize organizations and agencies in acknowledgment of their achievements as demonstrated through exemplary programs, projects, and products that address earthquake risk reduction within the United States. The highest ranked award will be given the Overall Award.

The 2016 National Awards in Excellence nomination period opens September 1, 2015 and closes January 4, 2016. For more details, and the 2016 Nomination Forms, see Call For Nominations.

For more information, National Awards in Excellence – Western States Seismic Policy Council.

The US Geological Survey released today new Simulations of the 1811-12 New Madrid Earthquakes, indicating that future large earthquakes in the mid-west and central United States would produce major, prolonged ground shaking.

To see the release and simulations, visit: USGS Release: New Simulations of 1811-1812 New Madrid Earthquakes Show Strong and Prolonged Ground Shaking in Memphis and Little Rock (7/30/2015 2:00:00 PM).