Activities of the United States EERI Committee on the Anticipated Tokai Earthquake

Abstract

Within the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) of the United States, a committee has been formed for the purpose of learning from the Japanese program of prediction and preparedness for the Tokai earthquake. The specific goals of this Committee are as follows:

• To study in detail the Large Scale Earthquake Countermeasures Act, approved and put in force in 1978 by the Japanese government, and the programs, plans, projects, and research, that have been developed as a consequence of this Act, with particular emphasis on those related to the Tokai earthquake;

• To analyze what parts of the Japanese programs, plans, projects, and research results can be transferred and consequently applied in the U.S. for hazards mitigation in future earthquakes;

• To encourage SERI to organize an investigative team to conduct appropriate studies in a timely manner in the case that a short term prediction is made and/or the earthquake occurs;

• To facilitate the function of the EERI team by developing liaison with Japanese officials and researchers involved in the prediction and hazard mitigation (disaster prevention) programs and by visiting the Tokai district to study the applications of the Japanese plans; and

• To prepare progress reports to the U.S. earthquake community summarizing current knowledge of the various activities relating to the Tokai earthquake in Japan.

• The Committee has just completed its first visit to Japan, which concentrated on familiarization with the present state of earthquake prediction and preparedness in the Tokai district. The disciplines encompassed by the Committee include earthquake prediction, geotechnical engineering, structural and lifeline engineering, architecture and urban planning, public information education and organization, and governmental planning and response. This talk will summarize the findings of the Committee during its current visit to Japan.