CUSEC and its Partnerships

The Problem

The earthquake hazard in the Central U.S. presents policy makers and managers with a unique combination of problems and challenges:

1. How to prepare for a hazard that has no warning
   
   
2. How to coordinate the earthquake response and recovery planning efforts of up to ten states that will be potentially impacted, and
   
   
3. How to "market" earthquake mitigation and preparedness programs to a broad range of groups in the public and private sectors, and in the process foster a political, social and institutional environment that promotes earthquake risk reduction.

Against this backdrop, the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium was established in 1983, with funding provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Board of Directors are the state directors of emergency management of the seven states that are most vulnerable to a New Madrid earthquake: Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Partnership Approach

CUSEC carries out its programs in partnership with a variety of agencies and organizations. Member states, through the Board of Directors, set CUSEC priorities. The day-to-day liaison with CUSEC is through the Earthquake Program Managers.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides financial support to operate the consortia, and other federal agencies contribute both funding and technical assistance. The US Geological Survey, for example, funds an organization of the seven State Geologists in the CUSEC region. The priority of the "CUSEC State Geologists" is the preparation of seismic hazard maps for use by state and local officials.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Red Cross both contribute in a unique way-through the designation of a "CUSEC liaison." These individuals are assigned to CUSEC, and provide valuable technical training and planning assistance to the member states. On the international front, CUSEC has worked closely with the Organization of American States (OAS) to establish the U.S.-Latin American Partnership, a hemispheric program that promotes the sharing of research, lessons learned, and technical expertise to reduce our collective vulnerability to earthquakes and other hazards.

Finally, CUSEC has a network of partners in the non-government sector-including the insurance industry, professional associations, volunteer organizations, business and industry groups, and others. These groups constitute an important constituency in view of the fact that non-government organizations carry out the bulk of mitigation decisions and actions in our communities.