What is the USGS doing to mitigate and respond to earthquake hazards?
The U.S. Geological Survey performs the following functions related to earthquake hazard mitigation: • Receives, analyzes, maintains, and distributes data on earthquake activity worldwide. Satellites link our National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado to a network of seismograph stations. These stations, located throughout the world, are maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey, State geological surveys, universities, research institutions, and foreign governments. • Provides rapid notification of earthquake events to civil defense and government officials in the affected area, and to the public through the news media. • Produces regional assessments of earthquake hazards in conjunction with State and local governments. This information is used by: local planners and building officials in setting appropriate building and retrofitting standards in an area government and civil defense officials in planning for disaster recovery professionals conducting detailed site asses
