Launched in 2006, the mission of the New Madrid Seismic Zone Catastrophic Planning Project is to increase national readiness for a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).  This multi-year, multi-agency initiative is the largest planning effort ever undertaken in United States History.  Specifically, national readiness will be increased by developing a series of annexes or supplements to existing base plans for response and recovery to a series of major earthquakes in the NMSZ and integrating them into a single document with federal, regional, tribal, state, and local components. Additionally, the mission is to identify any issues that can not be resolved based on current capabilities and to propose recommended courses of action for decision makers involved in this project.  The project is expected to culminate in 2011 with a series of major command exercises, coinciding with the 200th Anniversary of the 1811-1812 earthquakes.

The geology in the central U.S. is particularly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, and potential damage is more widespread than other earthquake-prone areas of the U.S.  The series of earthquakes with the greatest magnitude in the area was in 1811-1812 (4 major quakes within 3 months, ranging from approximately 7.0 to 8.0 in magnitude.)   Impact to national infrastructure will compound the problem – getting supplies and relief to survivors will be exceptionally challenging.  CUSEC, the Mid-America Earthquake Center (MAEC), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and FEMA have completed preliminary planning scenarios of potential impacts of an earthquake in the NMSZ.  The estimated total building loss in the area from one quake alone could exceed $70 Billion.  Recently, in September 2008, a comprehensive report from the MAE Center was released that details several different catastrophic earthquake scenarios for a major earthquake in the central U.S.

The NMSZ Catastrophic Planning Project will serve to accomplish the following three main objectives:

1. Improve response to a catastrophic earthquake and related hazards in the NMSZ
2. Plan for a coordinated response and recovery effort among Federal, State, and local agencies
3. Incorporate lessons from the Hurricane Katrina response, the Southeast Louisiana Catastrophic Hurricane Plan, and previous earthquakes

The project includes participation from all levels of government and the private sector, including -

Department of Homeland Security

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA Regions IV, V, VI, VII

CUSEC Member States

US Department of Transportation

US Geological Survey

Department Housing & Human Services

Department of Defense

US Northern Command

Mid-America Earthquake Center

Sandia National Lab

George Washington University

Local Governments

Business, Industry, and Voluntary Organizations

  Click here to download a pamphlet which explains the project in further detail...  [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 1.06 MB]