Just Released: New Madrid Seismic Zone: Overview of Earthquake Hazard and Magnitude Assessment Based on Fragility of Historic Structures

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Just Released: New Madrid Seismic Zone: Overview of
Earthquake Hazard and Magnitude Assessment Based on
Fragility of Historic Structures

Earthquake hazard assessment is a long-standing concern
in areas prone to these natural disasters. Although
housing construction in the U.S. is considered to be
relatively earthquake-resistant in comparison to many
forms of construction found worldwide, the assessment of
seismic hazard has significant implications to the
balance of housing affordability and safety.

Recent advances in seismic hazard characterization and
earthquake engineering have culminated in the seismic
design provisions of the International Building Code
(IBC-2000) and the International Residential Code (IRC-
2000).  As both codes are currently being considered for
adoption by local jurisdictions across the country,
concern has been raised about the accuracy and validity
of the new seismic provisions in the Central and Eastern
U.S.; particularly in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ),
where the design level of ground motion exceeds that
determined for many active seismic regions of California
and represents a significant increase from historically
used values.

A new study commissioned by HUD's Office of Policy
Development and Research (PD&R) and the Partnership for
Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) provides an
overview of the seismic hazard characterization
procedures used in the NMSZ and implemented in the IBC-
2000 and the IRC-2000.

Specifically, the study provides the results of a series
of structural fragility evaluations of historic accounts
of building damage to provide additional and independent
constraints on the magnitude estimates of the 1811-1812
earthquakes - the most recent series of earthquakes in
the NMSZ.  This is particularly important because
magnitude estimates are ultimately used for regulation of
building construction through the use of seismic hazard
maps that are integral to the development of seismic
design provisions in modern building codes.

Results of this study further confirm the high level of
seismic hazard in the NMSZ and the need for continued
attention to and consideration of adequate mitigation
measures. Additionally, the study makes recommendations
for further research and implementation, including
methods of performing future post-earthquake damage
assessments and building evaluations.
"New Madrid Seismic Zone: Overview of Earthquake Hazard
and Magnitude Assessment Based on Fragility of Historic
Structures" is available at
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/destech/newmadrid.html
or in printed form through the HUD USER Clearinghouse at
1-800-245-2691.
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HUD USER
P.O. Box 23268
Washington, DC 20026-3268
1-800-245-2691
1-800-927-7589 (TDD)
202-708-9981 (fax)
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