INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF A DEVELOPING GEOLOGIC HAZARD IN RAPIDLY URBANIZING AREAS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA

In 2006 the Arizona Legislature charged the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) with mapping earth fissures throughout Arizona.. The result is 1:250,000 scale earth fissure planning maps for four counties in south-central Arizona; work is ongoing to construct large-scale maps. But communicating map and geohazard information to the public is one of the greatest challenges we face. In alerting the public AZGS uses a multiprong approach that includes informational releases to the mass media, workshops, interagency collaboration, and public meetings. Arizona is the fastest growing state in the U.S., making it imperative that accurate earth fissure maps be available to city and county planners, and to the public.

AZGS's approach to public outreach involves producing and distributing planning maps, issuing press releases, conducting media interviews, briefings with city and county governments, and talks with realtors, contractors, and the public. Planning maps were constructed for Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties. Upon issuing the maps we conducted briefings with city and county governments regarding planning issues associated with earth fissures. FEMA provided funding to assist in developing informational workshops for realtors, civil authorities, and the public.

We distribute earth fissure planning maps as free, downloadable PDFs at azgs.az.gov. From June to December 2007, the public has downloaded more than 40,000 map and report files. Other outreach materials, brochures, updates and alerts, and 1:24,000 scale earth fissure maps will soon be available free online, too. The Earth fissure disclosure maps are hosted by the Arizona State Land Department on an IMS, which gives any user direct access to accurately mapped earth fissures.