Western States Seismic Policy Council

Western States Seismic Policy Council
Name	Western States Seismic Policy Council
Abbreviation	WSSPC
Formation	1979
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Region served	Western United States, Pacific Islands
Leader title	Executive Director

Western States Seismic Policy Council is a nonprofit organization that promotes earthquake and tsunami risk reduction across the western United States and Pacific jurisdictions. It engages state and territorial leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders from engineering, emergency management, academic, and legislative communities to translate seismic research into public policy and mitigation practice. The council collaborates with federal agencies, professional societies, and international partners to improve resilience in infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and communities.

History

Founded in 1979 in response to seismic events and policy needs in the late 20th century, the council emerged amid heightened activity following the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. Early involvement included coordination with agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Geological Survey to address regulatory gaps highlighted by the Northridge earthquake and the Loma Prieta earthquake. Over decades the organization has tracked developments in Seismic Hazard Mapping Act, building code revisions influenced by the International Building Code, and initiatives linked to the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. It has worked alongside institutions like California Geological Survey, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and academic centers including California Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Washington to incorporate research from projects such as the ShakeOut scenario and the HayWired earthquake study.

Organization and Governance

The council is governed by a board of directors representing member states, territories, and professional disciplines, with committees reflecting expertise from entities like American Society of Civil Engineers, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, and International Code Council. Executive leadership coordinates with technical advisors from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Department of Homeland Security components. Governance processes emphasize collaboration with legislative bodies including state legislatures from California State Legislature, Oregon Legislative Assembly, and Washington State Legislature, and regulatory agencies such as California Office of Emergency Services and state seismic offices. The organizational model draws on nonprofit governance best practices common to organizations like Nature Conservancy and American Red Cross for stakeholder engagement and fiscal oversight.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs target mitigation of seismic and tsunami hazards through model codes, grant-supported projects, and public-private partnerships with utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric Company and transit agencies such as Bay Area Rapid Transit. Initiatives include support for strengthening schools and hospitals following standards from State Historic Preservation Office reviews and guidance compatible with Federal Highway Administration seismic retrofit programs. The council has promoted risk assessment tools integrating datasets from the National Seismic Hazard Model and regional initiatives like the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, and has partnered with the FEMA National Earthquake Program on mitigation planning, post-disaster recovery, and seismic retrofit funding strategies.

Policy and Advocacy

Advocacy work emphasizes adoption of resilient building codes influenced by the International Building Code, seismic provisions from the ASCE 7 standard, and policy frameworks such as the National Mitigation Framework. The council advises legislators and regulators on retrofit mandates, lifeline resilience for systems managed by Bonneville Power Administration and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and land-use planning alongside state coastal management programs tied to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration guidance. It has provided testimony to committees in bodies like the United States Congress and state legislatures on issues ranging from seismic risk disclosure to disaster assistance funding administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development and FEMA.

Publications and Technical Resources

The organization produces model policies, technical briefs, and guidance documents informed by research from universities including Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Southern California. Resources synthesize findings from projects such as ShakeOut and regional seismic studies by the Alaska Earthquake Center and the Hawai‘i Volcanoes Observatory. Publications address topics linked to structural engineering from American Concrete Institute research, geotechnical guidance referencing Geo-Institute work, and tsunami risk informed by International Tsunami Information Center data. The council also curates case studies involving events like the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami to inform policy on coastal evacuation and critical facility siting.

Conferences and Training

Annual conferences convene participants from agencies such as USGS, FEMA, state emergency management offices, and professional organizations including Structural Engineers Association of California and National Association of Counties. Workshops and training sessions cover topics linked to seismic retrofitting, rapid damage assessment using methods endorsed by Applied Technology Council, and community preparedness models paralleling programs from Red Cross and Community Emergency Response Team. The council collaborates with academic programs at institutions like Oregon State University and University of California, Los Angeles to offer continuing education and professional development.

Member States and Partnerships

Membership spans western U.S. states and Pacific jurisdictions, with partnerships including state agencies such as California Office of Emergency Services, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and territorial partners in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. The council partners with federal entities including USGS, NOAA, and FEMA, plus professional societies like ASCE and EERI. International collaboration has involved organizations such as Geoscience Australia and the Japan Meteorological Agency for exchange on seismic and tsunami science and policy.

Category:Seismology organizations Category:Disaster preparedness organizations Category:Non-profit organizations based in California