The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) was established in 1977 by the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

as part of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977. The original stated purpose for NEHRP was "to reduce the risks of life and property from future Earthquakes in the United States through the establishment and maintenance of an effective earthquake hazards reduction program." Congress periodically reviews and reauthorizes NEHRP, with the most recent review happening in 2018. NEHRP supports basic research that expands our knowledge of earthquakes and their impacts. The four basic earthquake hazard reduction goals of NEHRP have remained the same since its creation: * Develop effective practices/policies and accelerate their implementation. * Improve techniques for reducing vulnerabilities of facilities and systems. * Improve earthquake hazards identification and

risk assessment Risk assessment is a process for identifying hazards, potential (future) events which may negatively impact on individuals, assets, and/or the environment because of those hazards, their likelihood and consequences, and actions which can mitigate ...

methods and their use. * Improve the understanding of earthquakes and their effects. To accomplish these goals, NEHRP developed the

Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction The 2004 re-authorization of National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) directed that the Director of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) establish the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACE ...

to advise congress on the programs progress in relation to: * Improved design and construction methods and best practices * Land use controls and redevelopment * Prediction and early-warning systems * Coordinated emergency preparedness plans * Public education/involvement programs

Primary NEHRP agencies

NEHRP has four designated federal agencies that contribute to the program: *

Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Exec ...

(FEMA) of the

United States Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. United States federal executive departments, federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the Interior minister, interior, Home Secretary ...

National Institute of Standards and Technology The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce whose mission is to promote American innovation and industrial competitiveness. NIST's activities are organized into Outline of p ...

(NIST) of the

United States Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce (DOC) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government. It is responsible for gathering data for business and governmental decision making, establishing industrial standards, catalyzing econ ...

(NIST is the lead NEHRP agency) *

National Science Foundation The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an Independent agencies of the United States government#Examples of independent agencies, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that su ...

(NSF) *

United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on Mar ...

(USGS) of the

United States Department of the Interior The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government responsible for the management and conservation ...

The majority of NEHRP's research activities are accomplished through the National Science Foundation funding of earthquake-related research in earth sciences, social sciences and engineering. NSF also provides post-earthquake empirical research using reconnaissance teams. These teams visit affected regions documenting the impacts, performance of construction and response/recovery. FEMA's primary role is to implement and distribute the final research products of NEHRP. This is done through the creation of a variety of published materials made available to 3rd parties.

Recent research

In 2020, NHERP and its partner agencies published "The 2020 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures." The report comprises a summary of a 5 year research project and includes 37 recommended changes to

American Society of Civil Engineers The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is a tax-exempt professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, it is the oldest national engineering soci ...

/SEI section 7-16 (Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures), nine white papers and associated commentary.

References

Attribution: {{PD-notice Research projects Government agencies established in 2006 Earthquake and seismic risk mitigation Disaster preparedness in the United States