Tools and Resources for Earthquake Programs
Welcome! This site compiles information about software tools and other online resources used by Earthquake Program Managers, Emergency Managers, Resiliency Officers, and others who manage or support earthquake preparedness and mitigation programs.
Tools and resources are categorized by the program function they support, such as research, hazard mitigation, or mapping.
The Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW) manages this site. For more information about CREW, or to suggest edits or additions to this site, email info@crew.org or visit the CREW website. This site was funded and assisted by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP).
Public Information Tools & Resources
Tools and resources for public communication, outreach, and education
Benefits:
Communicate information to the public and media
Target audiences with information by demographics, such as by geographic areas
Purchase and target paid online advertisements, for example, as part of a public outreach campaign
Gather insight on posts or paid advertising by analyzing public engagement metrics, such as “Likes” on Facebook or “click through rates” (the number of times users follow a link in a post)
Have the ability to engage in conversation directly with the public
Understand general questions and concerns by analyzing public posts or comments
Crowdsource information, for example, about impacts when there is limited access to an area in the aftermath of an earthquake
Presentation and Visualization Tools & Resources
Tools and resources for creating and delivering presentations, graphics, data visuals, and animations (Also see Information Sharing/Collaboration Tools & Resources and Mapping Tools and Resources)
Benefits:
Visual information can be understood easier and quicker than text-only materials
Allows creators to prioritize and highlight information
Users can translate data into visualizations that help analyze and/or communicate topics
Export files in Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF) to embed visuals in products and websites
Tools can be used to create accessible products, such as materials translated into a variety of languages
Information Sharing and Collaboration Tools & Resources
Tools and resources for exchanging information and working together on products
Benefits:
Users can back up, organize, and search files in the cloud.
Files such as toolkits and templates can be shared with partner organizations
Users can create and edit files, collaborating in real time
Stakeholders can message each other and share resources and other information
Programs can easily create websites or create and monitor surveys
Users can create secure incident-specific situational awareness information portals for responders or the public
Hazard Identification and Assessment Tools & Resources
Tools and resources for identifying and/or assessing hazards
Benefits:
Users can enhance their post-earthquake situational awareness
Accurate risk assessment supports risk reduction efforts
Users can draw attention to an event that might turn out to be serious enough to overwhelm a community’s response capacity
Hazard Mitigation Tools & Resources
Tools and resources for mitigating hazards (Also see Public Information Tools & Resources)
Benefits:
Identify and support ways for communities to recovery more rapidly from earthquakes
Identify and support opportunities to lessen the impacts of earthquakes on communities, including loss of life, financial losses, interruptions to services, etc.
Education and outreach programs inform the public about risk and mitigation measures to reduce impacts to their homes and businesses
Earthquake Research Tools & Resources
Tools and resources for reviewing research on earthquake science and incidents.
Benefits:
Deeper understanding of earthquake science to enhance program staff’s subject matter expertise
Obtain current information on the latest research about earthquakes to inform program priorities, initiatives, and public education efforts
Earthquake programs are science-based and grounded in established research
Mapping Tools & Resources
Mapping software tools and resources commonly used to map earthquake hazards.
Benefits:
Visual information can be understood easier and quicker than text-only materials
Allows creators to prioritize and highlight information
Users can translate data into visualizations that help analyze and/or communicate topics