CUSEC held its first meeting in 1983.  Members recognized that earthquakes are potentially the greatest single event natural hazard in the nation and in the CUSEC region.  The lack of attention given to geologic factors such as soil liquefaction and soil amplification of earthquake forces have always been of concern to CUSEC.

In 1992, the State Geologists from CUSEC Member States organized through a Memorandum of Understanding to address these and similar issues.  In cooperation with the US Geological Survey (USGS), the CUSEC State Geologists began coordinating efforts to map the region and to prepare databases and educational information to assist Federal and State Emergency Management Agency programs with earthquake mitigation, planning and with the design of emergency preparedness programs.

Although some data was available, without coordination, standardization, and cooperation among the CUSEC states, the task of understanding and using this information by the others would be very difficult. Meetings of the CUSEC State Geologists with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) representatives were used to guide the preparation of seismic hazard maps of the Midwest. A 1:2,000,000-scale (or 1 inch equals about 32 miles) seismic hazards map for the CUSEC seven-state region was completed in 1995 through the efforts of the CUSEC Organization of State Geologists.

A coordinator for these geological activities was appointed to oversee the CUSEC State Geologist program and to interface with SEMA and FEMA. The CUSEC State Geologists, with input from USGS, have designed a bibliography to assist the emergency management community. The bibliography is maintained by the CUSEC State Geologists and contains articles relevant to and work being performed in the Midwest.

Visit the CUSEC Member State section to find resources and contact information for your individual State Geological Survey.