New York State Office of Cyber Security
Geographic Information Systems Clearinghouse
GIS Partnership Summary
New
York City Area Consortium
for Earthquake Loss Mitigation (NYCEM)
Partnership Purpose and Goal
The New York City Area Consortium for Earthquake Loss Mitigation (NYCEM) was established in 1998 to conduct loss estimation studies, which will provide a framework for developing appropriate, cost effective mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of losses which would result from a large or moderate earthquake. Loss estimates, which are generated using the GIS-based "HAZUS" software, will also provide disaster preparedness planners with a better understanding of the likely post-event conditions on which to base their plans.
Participants and Resource Contributions
Charter Members
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO)
- New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM)
- New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYCOEM)
- Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER)
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)
- Princeton University
Additional Participants
- New York State Geological Survey (NYSGS)
- New Jersey Geological Survey (NJGS)
- Westchester County
- Rutgers University
Committee Members
- Executive Committee http://www.nycem.org/exembrs.asp
- Advisory Committee http://www.nycem.org/advmbrs.asp
Stakeholders
NYCEM encourages involvement from public and private organizations potentially impacted by seismic events.
Partnership Strategy for Resource Contributions
NYCEM will be releasing its second year report in summer 2000. This corresponds with Federal Emergency Management Agency original two-year $250,000 "seed" money time frame (the New York State Emergency Management Office and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management Office have provided additional support through allocations of their annual National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program funding). It is intended that post second year activities be supported through funding and in-kind services from stakeholders.Time Frame
Date Partnership
Began: 1998
Completion Date: On-going
Deliverables
Primary efforts are the development, collection, and integration of inventory databases on the built environment and soil seismic characteristics for input into the HAZUS model.
Brief Summary of Partnership
The United States Geological Survey's National Seismic Hazard Mapping Project indicates a moderate earthquake hazard in the New York City metropolitan region: http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/eq/. Generally speaking, however, earthquake "risk" is a product of a region's seismic hazard, multiplied by population density and the fragility of the built environment. Consequently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) considers the New York City metropolitan area among the nation's greatest earthquake risks.
Although the region is considered to be a high risk, little is known to date concerning the nature and extent of losses which would result from a large or even a moderate size earthquake. The New York City Area Consortium for Earthquake Loss Mitigation (NYCEM) was established in 1998 to conduct loss estimation studies, which will provide a framework for developing appropriate, cost effective mitigation strategies to reduce this risk. In addition, loss estimates will enable disaster preparedness planners with a better understanding of the likely post event conditions on which to base their plans.
NYCEM is using the GIS-based "HAZUS" software to generate loss estimates.
Additional Information Available
On-line
http://www.nycem.org/default.asp
http://www.nibs.org/hazus.htm.
Contact Information
Daniel O'Brien
Program Manager - GIS and Earthquake
State Emergency Management Office
Building 22, Ste 101
1220 Washington Ave.
Albany, N.Y. 12226-2251
Phone: (518) 457-1836
Fax: (518) 457-9930
E-mail: daniel.obrien@semo.state.ny.us
Information last updated: March 30, 1999