EARTHQUAKE INSIGHT FIELD TRIP: CENTRAL US HAZARD AND RISK DISCUSSIONS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE POLICYMAKERS

Relevant and practical information about earthquake hazard and earthquake risk in the central US is not always available to public and private decision-makers. To address this need, the Earthquake Insight field trip was developed as a prototype, proactive outreach event to close the gap between the geoscience community and those who make important political and business decisions. The rigorous, three-day, 800-mile-long field trip began in St. Louis and ended in Memphis, crisscrossing the New Madrid fault zone. Stops included university earthquake research centers; seismic design incorporated into retrofit, under-construction, and completed structures; field sites showing the effects of liquefaction, surface rupture, lateral spreading, and landslides; and the especially high-risk regional industries of urban redevelopment, steel production, commodities transport, and logistics and distribution. Most of the 30 field trip participants were high-level, corporate executives and many were from the insurance industry; others included state senators, a science reporter from a major daily newspaper, and industry association executives. Several dozen field trip presenters included research geoscientists; practicing structural engineers; and federal, state, and local government leaders. Significant information exchange occurred between the participants and the presenters. Feedback showed that the field trip was an extremely cost-effective way to reduce earthquake risk in the central US: most participants (most of who have the authority and responsibility to make changes in their organizations) indicated that, because of what they learned on the field trip, they are taking specific actions to lower earthquake risk in the region. Participants estimated that, as a result of the field trip, the cumulative, dollar-value of risk-reduction actions they will take at well over $2 billion – with a ‘b.' This result provides an exceptional cost-benefit result and proves that similar, proactive field trip events for key decision-makers should be planned for the future.