Toward a Strategic Plan for the National Earthquake Risk Reduction Program

Abstract

Every day actions are taken that reduce the risks associated with earthquakes. This national, amorphous but action-oriented effort is NERRP (different from nehrp—the federally-funded information-gathering-and-disseminating effort). There is today no well articulated list of goals for NERRP, let alone a well understood plan for achieving such goals—although there are some de facto goals and plans. Such goals and plans are needed—to enlist support for earthquake risk reduction, and to permit effective planning for the nehrp effort. A set of national goals, together with a strategic plan to achieve these goals, are presented—as a “strawman.” The aim is to stimulate discussion and launch action toward achieving consensus on goals and a plan for NERRP.