I commend you for introducing legislation to encourage Americans to reduce their risk to earthquakes and offer EERI's strong support for S. 424. We endorse the effort to provide incentives to encourage the use of proper retrofit standards and are pleased to see attention being given to needed instrumentation, the development of shake maps and new data to improve our techniques. Because, we may never be able to predict earthquakes reliably, we need a persistent effort to improve the quality of new construction and to rehabilitate existing at-risk buildings. The Nisqually earthquake reminded us that much of the damage and resulting human and economic consequences would be avoided if we use existing knowledge. Reducing risk before earthquakes strike is far better than paying for repairs and recovery and abiding irreplaceable losses.
Earthquakes are a national problem and the federal government has an important role to play.
Federal incentives and strong leadership are needed and S.424 provides them. EERI is the preeminent earthquake safety organization dedicated to reducing 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. Our 2,500 members come from nearly every state in the nation and 60 foreign countries. Our membership includes engineering and earth science professionals, experts in physical and social sciences and public policy, architects and urban planners. Our members are in private practice, government and academia.