Multidisciplinary Strategies for Earthquake Hazard Mitigation - Earthquake Insurance

This project led to the preparation of five papers on various socioeconomic earthquake hazard mitigation issues. They include a discussion of earthquake insurance in the U.S., a summary of the socioeconomic impacts of several U.S. earthquakes, an examination of the decision-making processes involved in two base isolation decisions, a summary of design lessons learned by prominent earthquake engineers during their careers, a paper outlining a comprehensive approach to earthquake hazard mitigation, and a set of recommendations to improve knowledge transfer.

The Year Two papers are intended to support the Year Three project which focuses on the conceptual development of a "Socioeconomic Consequences Model," It is possible that such a model could be used for improving future earthquake loss estimates and planning scenarios; identifying cost-efficient mitigation measures; and rapidly estimating probable impacts of actual earthquakes to improve emergency response activities.