We’re seeking a proactive, creative, and tech savvy Program Coordinator. This position supports implementation of various externally and internally funded projects, programs, and strategic initiatives under the guidance of other EERI programmatic staff and associated program committee chairs.

The ideal candidate is self-motivated, flexible, and organized, as well as adept and comfortable working in a collaborative environment with a small staff and many professional volunteers. This position is a great opportunity for someone who is enthusiastic about engaging our members to help bring about real change in reducing earthquake risk and promoting public safety. This person will get the opportunity to apply their technical understanding of a field associated with earthquake risk reduction to solve problems alongside passionate EERI volunteers.

Responsibilities will include assisting technical and administrative committees, planning conferences and workshops, deploying earthquake clearinghouses to assist reconnaissance work, and coordinating the organization’s public policy activities at the federal and/or state level.

Please click here for the full job description. Interested individuals should submit a resume and letter of interest to EERI at jobs@eeri.org by July 7, 2019. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.

The 2020 NEC Program Committee is seeking presentation abstracts and session concepts for the 2020 National Earthquake Conference from March 4-6 in San Diego, CA. Submission deadline is Friday, June 28.

Proposal abstracts for presentations and session concepts are welcome in four broad focus areas – Engineering, Science, Policy, and Practice – to advance U.S. and global earthquake resiliency. 

Engineering: to showcase the latest research, technologies, methodologies, and tools for improved earthquake risk reduction for the built environment; and to share effective design solutions and case studies

Science: to highlight scientific advances and products that support preparedness, response, recovery and/or mitigation

Policy: to advance resilience through strong building codes, smart finance, marketplace incentive programs, tax benefits, innovative legislation, smart home technology

Practice: to facilitate implementation of effective seismic risk reduction activities and practices by advocates, building and fire code officials, communicators, emergency managers, insurance professionals, journalists, leaders, merchants, product manufacturers, public officials, and other critical stakeholders.

The 2020 NEC Program Committee will review and consider submissions, and will notify selected presenters in early Fall 2019. Presenters will be asked to prepare a PowerPoint presentation or poster, but NO conference papers will be accepted or required. Presenters will have the option to post their presentation materials on the website but no formal proceedings will be produced.

Presenters will be responsible for their own travel expenses and conference registration fees. We expect to provide a limited number of registration grants for students, early career academics, and professionals. 

Don’t forget to submit your application here by Friday, June 28!

With funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), EERI and American Samoa Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS) are seeking structural engineering services specializing in marine structures to provide seismic assessments for a port structure in American Samoa.

This project is a seismic assessment of a wharf in the Port of Pago Pago. Two additional building structures may be assessed as part of this project if budget allows. Please note that this is not a request for an assessment of Pago Pago Harbor but specifically the Port of Pago Pago.

Please view the full RFP (Updated March 20, 2019) for more information.

Proposal deadline: (FINAL EXTENSION) Friday, March 29, 2019 at 12:00pm PT

Interested parties should send a proposal (including a brief statement of interest, qualifications, and a list of relevant recent projects) to Zoe Yin at EERI (zoe@eeri.org) before the request for proposal deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Is the lump sum fee of $25,000 fixed?
Yes, the fee is fixed at $25,000, which also must include all travel and associated project costs. There is no additional funding available. If the wharf assessment can be completed for less than the fixed fee, two optional additional building structures are also described in the RFP for potential assessment or screening as a part of the project.

2. What type of seismic assessment is ASDHS looking for?
ASDHS is looking to gain as much information as possible about the performance of the wharf after future earthquakes, and asks the proposer to indicate the type and level of assessment they think can be achieved within the fixed project budget. They would like to learn about any potential deficiencies present in the current structure, and hear any recommendations that could improve the expected seismic performance.

3. What type of “Transactional Rating” is required?
This was an error in the RFP document and is struck from the project scope in the updated RFP dated March 20, 2019.

Supplemental Materials to be provided to selected Contractor by ASDHS:

ASDHS expects to provide the following supplemental materials to the selected contractor. It is also seeking structural drawings for all structures. ASDHS is willing to seek and acquire other materials needed by the contractor, upon request.

• Marine Sediment report and soil sample information from a 2002 geotechnical study.
• Bathymetric scan of Pago Harbor
• Various materials from a 2002 wharf rehabilitation study.

2018 NEHRP Reauthorization.EERI-press-release

EERI Press Release: December 12, 2018
Media Contact: Chris Poland | +1 415 740 7892 | cpoland@cdpce.com   

For Immediate Release                        

National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018 signed into law by President Trump

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, the first reauthorization of NEHRP in 9 years, sends a clear political message that earthquake risk reduction remains  an important priority for our nation.

Oakland, CA: December 12, 2018 — The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018 was signed into law by President Trump on Tuesday, December 11, 2018. The law represents a revitalization of the Nation’s premier 45 year old earthquake hazard  reduction program and provides a clear political message that earthquake risk reduction remains a priority for the nation. The bill ( S.1768 and HR 6650), which passed unanimously through the Senate and house this fall ,  was co-sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

“NEHRP Reauthorization is a big step forward for our nation’s seismic resilience. The goalpost has moved from merely surviving a major earthquake, to maintaining quality of life, preventing damage to structures and  infrastructure, and reducing economic hardship. The law includes many new features that are important for the expansion of the NEHRP program to meet our 21^st  century needs,” said Heidi Tremayne, Executive Director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program provides funding to USGS, NIST, NSF and FEMA to define the size and damage potential of earthquakes, develop technologically and economically feasible design and construction methods, and develop implementation programs, related publications, and mitigation techniques. This   five-year  reauthorization makes significant program reforms and enhancements , modernizes the language related to earthquake prediction and early warning systems,  better defines  coordination among federal and state legislation, commissions a comprehensive study of the program’s effectiveness and funding levels.  

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) has long advocated for NEHRP and all reauthorizations and again assisted in the bill’s development. Collaborating with partners in the engineering and natural hazards communities,  as well as incorporating recommendations developed  by the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR), specific enhancements put forth by EERI include:

• The findings now record that the nation is not prepared to remain operational or recover under any specific schedule and that the National Research Council reported that annual funding of approximately $300,000,000 is needed for 20 years to achieve the program’s research, preparedness, and mitigation goals.
• The Purpose was expanded to include increasing the resilience of communities and to point out the need to develop new planning codes along with model building codes.
• A definition for “Community Resilience” was added. “Lifelines” are now more accurately referred to as “lifeline infrastructure.”
• A full review of the program, the activities of the program agencies, and the effectiveness of its application to both public and private earthquake risk and hazard reduction activities by the Comptroller General is now required to be submitted to the Congress within 3 years. This report should point out the need for the program’s further  expansion and additional  funding.
• FEMA and NIST are directed  to convene a committee of experts to recommend options for improving the built environment and critical infrastructure needed to support community  recovery and resilience. This is expected to lead to the development of a new generation of functional recovery codes and standards for all components of the built environment.

For more information and to updates, please visit the EERI Legislative Action Center.

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The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is a national, nonprofit, technical society of engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners, public officials, and social scientists. EERI members include researchers, practicing professionals, educators, government officials, and building code regulators. The objective of EERI is to reduce earthquake risk by advancing the science and practice of earthquake engineering; improving understanding of the impact of earthquakes on the physical, social, economic, political, and cultural environment; and advocating comprehensive and realistic measures for reducing the harmful effects of earthquakes. www.eeri.org