The United States Geological Survey is making progress in the earthquake early warning system but improvements are needed in program management – Homeland Security Today

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has revised the USGS Earthquake Hazard Program (EHP), which seeks to reduce threats posed by earthquakes and related hazards such as tsunamis.

Earthquakes and related hazards pose a major threat to people and infrastructure in the United States, for example, 6.4 and 7.1 magnitude earthquakes struck western Searles Valley in California, in July 2019, causing more than $ 5 billion in damage.

The Government Accountability Office found that the US Geological Survey has made numerous efforts to identify earthquake hazards, such as tsunamis and landslides, to inform the public and assist decision-makers in ensuring public safety and mitigating losses. For example, the United States Geological Survey publishes National Seismic Hazard Maps, which are used to strengthen building codes across the country. U.S. Geological Survey officials, state geologists, and other stakeholders interviewed for the GAO stated that the program’s ability to fulfill its mission was hampered by consistent discretionary resources for its core capabilities, such as conducting applied scientific research or urban risk assessments.

In response, the USGS implemented cost-saving and cost-saving measures to meet the EHP mission that are consistent with some but not all of the leading practices for strategic planning, performance measurement, and human capital planning identified in previous GAO work. For example, the U.S. Geological Survey lacks a strategic plan that identifies, among other things, the resources needed to achieve the EHP mission and goals for all key EHP functions, such as conducting applied research in seismology or urban risk assessments. Furthermore, the USGS has not performed a staffing needs analysis consistent with leading practices for the principles of effective strategic planning for the workforce, and this analysis may include succession planning and a data-based assessment of their critical skills and competencies needs. By developing a strategic plan that outlines the strategies, priorities, and resources needed to reach these goals and conducting an employment gap analysis, the USSSA says the USGS can better ensure that it has well-thought-out strategies for achieving outcome-oriented goals while Congress understands the trade-offs made by the USG The United States Geological Survey in applying its resources toward its goals.

The United States Geological Survey has made progress in implementing seismic stations; However, there are still some challenges to fully implementing ShakeAlert. The GAO found that the USGS did not follow best practices in establishing timelines, milestones, and timeframes for ShakeAlert implementation, nor did it complete its plan to coordinate outreach with stakeholders. By developing timelines and milestones, USGS will be able to track the completion of key activities that affect ShakeAlert’s total cost. By updating and completing its ShakeAlert outreach plan, the USGS can better ensure all stakeholders have a shared understanding of how to communicate and educate the public about the ShakeAlert system.

The Government Accountability Office makes seven recommendations, including for the United States Geological Survey to develop a strategic plan, including measures, and to conduct an employment gap analysis for an environmental health plan that identifies the resources needed to achieve its mission and goals; Follow best practices for comprehensive ShakeAlert cost estimation; And the completion of the stakeholder communication plan for the earthquake early warning system. The USGS generally agreed with the GAO recommendations.

Read the full report on GAO

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