Most conferences focus on one particular issue.
Commissions form a bridge between policy makers, scientists, engineers, emergency managers and the public and reach solutions that the community can actually implement. The NEP will coordinate the activities of more than 16 federal agencies that have a significant impact on earthquake hazard reduction programs, and foster more earthquake mitigation actions at the state and local levels. The keynote speaker will be Harvey Ryland, President, Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction, who will address the insurance industry's role in seismic risk management. The City of Los Angeles Mayor's Blue Ribbon Panel Seismic Hazard Reduction, noted for its work in creating and implementing newer building codes in the aftermath of the Northridge Earthquake, will lead a roundtable discussion on a variety of earthquake mitigation topics. Participants at the workshop include representatives from the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, and the territories of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.