Preface

On August 12–15, 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey and Missouri University of Science and Technology hosted "Preparing for a Significant Earthquake: Science Needs of the Response and Recovery community," in Rolla, Missouri. The purpose of this conference was to bring together scientists, engineers, and the response and recovery community who are stakeholders in activities resulting from a significant no-notice seismic event in the Central United States. The objective was to provide a regional forum for the presentation, exchange of ideas, and potential solutions involved with preparing for a significant Central Unites States earthquake. The conference opened communication avenues with academia, government, non-government agencies, and the private sector to address the current and forecasted needs of the response and recovery community. The ultimate objective was to facilitate the development of relevant science in preparation for a significant Central United States earthquake similar to the events of 1811–12, and to begin establishing a long-term consistent system of data development that can support holistic interpretations leading to products that can support the response and recovery community following an earthquake.

This report contains the abstracts and selected papers for oral and poster sessions and the results of the breakout and table-top sessions. During the three day conference workshop participants learned about first response training, attended presentations from esteemed speakers, and participated in a facilitated discussion on the next steps necessary to prepare for a significant seismic event in the Central United States. The first day of the conference consisted of six training events:

• Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency's (SEMA) Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation (SAVE) training;
• The Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) summary brief of the Disaster Medicine 101 course and an overview of public health concepts related to the earthquake threat in the New Madrid Seismic Zone;
• Red Cross training in mass care;
• The U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School's presentation on the employment of joint task forces of military, federal, Department of Transportation, and local organizations in a disaster environment;
• The Missouri National Guard's Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team's (CST) exploratory session on how CSTs can support the emergency response community during a seismic event. The class also included a live demonstration of specific communications capabilities including a live "hot zone" video, video teleconference, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) capabilities; and
• Central Plains EarthScope Partnership presentation on the coalition of universities, schools, State geological surveys, and State and Federal agencies organized to promote earth science research and education in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri by utilizing the National Science Foundation-funded EarthScope facility.

The second day of the conference addressed specifically topics, including the consequences of a major earthquake, engineering effects and stresses, socioeconomic impacts, mitigation plans for transportation and infrastructure, geological and structural monitoring, and geologic mapping activities. The third day was divided into two tracks to facilitate discussion and input into the needs of the response and recovery community. Presentations focused on Federal and State agency mapping activities, and the lessons learned from State and Department of Defense natural disaster exercises. Both tracks included a facilitated panel discussion to develop a list of challenges to response and recovery operations that can be supported through relevant science and engineering activities. SEMA also conducted a table-top exercise that brought concerns from the response and recovery community to the attention of the science community. Comments made by speakers not affiliated with the USGS do not necessarily reflect the positions of the USGS.

First posted September 16, 2010