On September 19, 2017, M 7.1 earthquake struck 5km ENE of Raboso, Mexico. The EERI community extends its sympathy to the victims as rescue and relief work continues.

EERI is currently monitoring the situation from media reports and notes from colleagues in the impacted region as part of its Learning from Earthquakes Program and is considering an EERI response.

EERI has set up a virtual clearinghouse website for EERI members to find information and share knowledge about the earthquake’s impact.

More information about EERI’s plans will be posted soon, so please check back frequently.

For current and timely information about the earthquake, please also see the USGS event page, and the PAGER report.

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) has internship positions available for recent graduates who are interested in gaining valuable professional experience while supporting the Institute’s mission to reduce earthquake risk.

EERI’s internships are approximately six-months long, and offer engagement with a number of interesting EERI projects and Institute activities, including Learning from Earthquakes, the School Earthquake Safety Initiative, the World Housing Encyclopedia, annual meetings (the 11th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering in 2018), and technical seminars and webinars.

EERI’s internships are approximately six-months long and provide a monthly stipend of $2,200/month for recent college grads ($2,500/month for recent graduate students). Spring 2018 interns are expected to start as early as January 2018.

September 13, 2017

The EERI Board of Directors met on September 8th, amid the beginning recovery of Hurricane Harvey, the current and imminent impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Jose, and the unfolding damage accounts from the September 7th M8.1 earthquake off the southern coast of Mexico. Mother Nature appears to be rather active and intense.

On the Mexico earthquake, the Learning From Earthquakes Executive Committee is already collecting data, contacting our colleagues in Mexico and Guatemala, and determining the appropriate level of response. Stay tuned.

The Board did celebrate a recent milestone accomplishment in the introduction of legislation this last week to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. With bi-partisan co-sponsorship, led by Senators Feinstein and Murkowski, the introduction of this appropriations bill would not have occurred without the extraordinary efforts by EERI’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. But there is an uncertain road to navigate before NEHRP is reauthorized and funded.

We are living in turbulent times beyond the recent rash of natural disasters we are experiencing. National support for science is being challenged. Immigration restrictions and the withdrawal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals pose potential harmful impact to EERI’s national and international membership.

The Board recalled an extraordinary moment at this last spring’s annual business meeting. As we do annually, we bestowed lifetime achievement awards to Prof. Anil Chopra (M. EERI, 1973), Ashraf Habibullah (M. EERI, 1999), and Dr. Farzad Naeim (M. EERI, 1983). In accepting his award, Farzad noted that all three of these honorees were first-generation immigrants to the United States, and all had made significant contributions to the cultural, scientific and economic fabric of this country. And he noted that none of them, under proposed policy changes, would today be likely allowed to immigrate. Farzad’s remarks were greeted with a spontaneous and resounding standing ovation. Never have we been so stirred and proud of our membership.

The Board further expressed concerns regarding the threats to our earthquake engineering and social science Dreamers. These young members of our Institute represent our future contributors and leadership, and securing their future should be all of our concern.

We do not speak out to politicize but we do have the responsibility to remain true to the EERI mission. That mission is to reduce earthquake risk by advancing the science and practice of earthquake engineering; by improving understanding of the impact of earthquakes on the physical, social, economic, political, and cultural environment; and by advocating comprehensive and realistic measures for reducing the harmful effects of earthquakes. And when policies directly or indirectly affect the pursuit of this mission, we must speak up.

We are a membership that is about inclusion and not of exclusion or restriction. We know no borders. The only fault divisions we identify are those of tectonic origin. We are women and men of all races, nationalities and faiths, and bonded and made stronger by that diversity.

On behalf of the EERI Board of Directors and staff, this message is written with immense respect and appreciation for our diverse membership. We remain dedicated to collaborative actions to reduce earthquake risk.

David A. Friedman, President, EERI

EERI’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, led by Laura Samant (M. EERI 2003), has been closely following activities in Washington D.C., and monitoring impacts on NEHRP agencies and seismic policy. Recent federal budget proposals have indicated significant cuts to programs associated with earthquake and tsunami risk reduction.

In response, EERI has taken an official position advocating for the reauthorization of NEHRP. In addition to a broader letter-writing campaign to both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging reconsideration of these budget reductions and outlining the benefits of these programs, EERI sent an official letter of support to Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office (D-CA) on August 21, 2017.

EERI members and partner organizations are encouraged to send similar letters using the language in EERI’s letter as a template.

Official Letter: EERI’s Endorsement of NEHRP Reauthorization (PDF)

Use these links to find your representative:

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
http://whoismyrepresentative.com/

EERI’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, led by Laura Samant (M. EERI 2003), has been closely following activities in Washington D.C., and monitoring impacts on NEHRP agencies and seismic policy. Recent federal budget proposals have indicated significant cuts to programs associated with earthquake and tsunami risk reduction. In response, EERI sent letters to 31 Senators and 14 Congressional Representatives on both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to re-consider these budget reductions and outlining the benefits of these programs. EERI members and partner organizations are encouraged to send similar letters using EERI’s template language.

Download these tools to write your representative about Federal Budget reductions to earthquake & tsunami-related programs:

Earthquake Program Advocacy Letter template (Word File)

Earthquake Program Advocacy sample letter (PDF)

Tsunami Program Advocacy Letter template (Word File)

Tsunami Program Advocacy sample letter (PDF)

EERI Public Policy & Advocacy Committee Legislator Contact List for June 2017 (Excel File)

Use these links to find your representative:

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
http://whoismyrepresentative.com/