National Seismic Hazard Maps

Now that we are thinking about earthquakes ...

The USGS National Seismic Hazard Maps are the basis for seismic design provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, earthquake loss studies, retrofit priorities, and land-use planning.
Incorporating these hazard maps into designs of buildings, bridges, highways, and critical infrastructure allows these structures to withstand earthquake shaking without collapse.
Properly engineered designs not only save lives, but also reduce disruption to critical activities following a damaging event. By estimating the likely shaking for a given area, the maps also help engineers avoid costs from over-design for unlikely levels of ground motion. MORE INFO