SAN DIEGO, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The
quadrennial 2020 National Earthquake Conference (#NEC2020) this
week in San Diego is bringing
together nearly 650 global attendees from across the academic,
public, and private sectors to examine and share the latest
advances in earthquake science, policy initiatives, practice
(emergency management, first response, risk communication, etc.),
and engineering. Conference goals are to improve life safety when
earthquakes occur; to help communities learn how to recover faster;
and to help prevent or minimize physical earthquake damage through
stronger building practices, including research-informed, model
building codes and standards.
"This unique, interdisciplinary conference will help create a
safer, more earthquake-resilient United States by bringing
together many diverse experts to learn, solve problems, and
collaborate," said Leslie
Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of the nonprofit
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), conference co-organizer.
"Four years ago, the 2016 NEC helped advance research and
innovative methods to save lives, prevent community disruption, and
reduce the cost of damaged buildings and infrastructure. We are
excited to see what type of breakthrough successes we achieve this
week at #NEC2020."
The National Earthquake Conference occurs every
four years and is attended by academia, building code experts,
engineers, citizens, design/build professionals, earth scientists,
engineers, federal, state and local government leaders, local,
state and federal emergency managers, geology and seismology
experts, first responders, insurance professionals, utilities,
hospitals/medical professionals, researchers, businesses, risk
communication experts, and private sector interests to share the
latest advances, research, information, scientific insights, and
technologies.
"NEC2020 provides a unique opportunity for diverse earthquake
experts from across the industry gathered together in one venue to
work collaboratively on earthquake preparedness, response,
recovery, and mitigation," said Heidi
Tremayne, executive director of EERI, conference
co-organizer. "We are especially excited this year to present the
San Diego Earthquake Scenario, a report that examines the impacts
of an earthquake intersecting the urban core of San Diego and identifies important steps that
could be taken to improve the seismic resilience of the region's
buildings and infrastructure."
NEC2020
The NEC2020 is organized by the Earthquake Engineering Research
Institute (EERI) and the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes,
Inc. (FLASH). Presenting Partners are FEMA, NEHRP,
NIST, and USGS; the Presenting Sponsor is
the California Earthquake Authority
(CEA).
The NEC2020 offers attendees a robust conference agenda,
featuring 35 sessions—8 plenary keynote sessions and panels; 27
concurrent breakout sessions; 9 individual events, two awards
ceremonies, a diversity networking event, classroom outreach, a
training workshop, student events, a breakfast for young members,
30 exhibitors, and more.
NEC2020 Highlights Include:
- Release of updated San Diego Earthquake Scenario (M6.9
earthquake along Rose Canyon fault), plus sessions covering
societal, economic, scientific, engineering, and policy
implications.
- Three special sessions and 27 poster
exhibits featuring the Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence of
July 2019 that shook
Southern California, the Puerto Rico earthquakes, and 47 other
topics.
- The worldwide 17th Annual EERI Seismic
Design Competition, where more than 350 competitors from
nearly 50 universities will test 4 ft tall model high-rise
buildings designed for San Diego
on an earthquake simulator. The models will be dynamically
tested on Wednesday, and the winning teams will be awarded on the
last day of the conference.
- The Quake Cottage, where attendees can climb inside a
one-of-a-kind, 8-seat ultimate earthquake simulator to safely
experience what it feels like in a major earthquake. Afterward,
they will learn the latest in safety preparedness in an earthquake
learning center.
- The San Diego Scenario ShakeMap fault map, and more on
the EERI – San Diego
chapter webpage.
- The EERI Awards Ceremony, which will showcase 12
honorees of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.
- Leading earthquake experts who will deliver keynote
speeches, serve as panelists/panel moderators, and run breakout
sessions. These include: Dr. Julian J.
Bommer (seismic hazard and risk specialist, Imperial
College, London); David Bonowitz (structural engineering
consultant); Dr. Howard H.
Harary (Director of the Engineering Laboratory at the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, conference honorary
chair), Leslie
Chapman-Henderson (FLASH President and CEO, conference
co-organizer, and building code expert); Dr. Laurie Johnson (Urban Planner and EERI
President); Dr. Lucy Jones
(Founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society);
David Maurstad (FEMA Deputy
Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation and chief
executive of the National Flood Insurance Program); Dr.
Jorge Meneses (geotechnical
engineering expert, EERI San Diego Chapter President);
Glenn Pomeroy (California
Earthquake Authority CEO); Janiele
Maffei (Chief Mitigation Officer, California Earthquake
Authority); and Heidi
Tremayne (Executive Director of EERI, conference
co-organizer).
The NEC2020 pre-conference activities included the National
Earthquake Program Managers Annual Meeting, seven EERI committee
meetings, pre-conference workshops, and tours, including to the
NHERI@UCSD Large High-Performance Outdoor Shake Table at the
University of California, San Diego and
the San Diego Central Library walking tour.
NEC2016
Last held in 2016 in Long Beach,
CA, the 2016 NEC generated worldwide focus on
earthquake policy and science solutions, including the Earthquake
Early Warning project and research findings regarding the southern
San Andreas fault. Here is a link
to the official Conference Program.
About EERI
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is the
leading non-profit membership organization that connects those
dedicated to reducing earthquake risk. Our multidisciplinary
members include engineers, geoscientists, social scientists,
architects, planners, emergency managers, academics, students, and
other like-minded professionals. EERI has been bringing people and
disciplines together since 1948. Learn more
at www.eeri.org.
About FLASH
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is the
country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and
safeguarding families from natural and humanmade disasters. The
FLASH partnership includes more than 100 innovative and diverse
organizations that share a vision of making America a more
disaster-resilient nation including: BASF Corporation, FEMA,
Florida Division of Emergency Management, Huber Engineered Woods,
International Code Council, Lowe's, National Weather Service,
Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, and
USAA. In 2008, FLASH, and Disney opened the interactive weather
experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH
and access free consumer resources by visiting
www.flash.org, calling toll-free (877) 221-
SAFE (7233), following @federalalliance on Twitter,
on Facebook.com/federalalliance, and the FLASH
blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.
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SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)