Lifeline Seismic Risk Analysis Impacts of a Catastrophic Earthquake on U.S. National Lifeline Systems

Scawthorn, C.; Khater, M.; Rojahn, C.; ,

Lifeline Seismic Risk Analysis Impacts of a Catastrophic Earthquake on U.S. National Lifeline Systems

by C. Scawthorn, EQE Engineering Inc, San Francisco, United States,
M. Khater, EQE Engineering Inc, San Francisco, United States,
C. Rojahn, EQE Engineering Inc, San Francisco, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Lifeline Earthquake Engineering

Abstract:

Electric power, water, gas, and oil pipelines, highways, railroads and several other lifelines of critical importance at the U.S. national level have been inventoried and analyzed, to estimate overall seismic vulnerability, impact of major earthqukes on their performance and resulting economic consequences. Innovative aspects of the project include availability of a national level PC-format digitized inventory of lifelines, extensive development and discussion of lifeline component seismic vulnerability, use of graphical user interface seismic risk analysis PC-based software, assessment of economic and social impacts of lifeline interruption for major metropolitan areas of the US, and identification of cost-effective mitigation measures for lifelines. The project concludes that electric power and water are the two most critical lifelines. Of eight scenario earthquakes considered in the study, we find the greatest lifeline-related impacts to the U.S. result from either Central U.S. (ie, New Madrid) or Southern California magnitude 8 events, resulting in direct transmission level lifeline damage of approximately $10 billion, and indirect economic losses of approximately $12 to $14 billion.

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