This is kind of interesting. The equivalent of the Oregon Geologic Survey, DOGAMI, has a geologic hazard map of the state that the City of Newport has used as the basis for a geologic hazard building code. This article describes some Recent and proposed changes to that code. Mainly the changes deal with the clarifications to the requirement for a geologic report, not requiring them on properties classified as moderate risk. But I found it interesting that the City Council approved a motion to only display the hazard maps in grayscale at City Meetings because the red color used on the DOGAMI map for high risk areas might scare people off from buying a property. [Source: oregoncoastdailynews]
Available Resources
Geologic Hazard Photos
The National Geodetic Data Center (NGDC) of NOAA has an online collection of photos of various geologic hazards. Many of the photos are from older sets of 35mm slides that have been digitized. They are free to use provided you credit the photographer and the NGDC as the source. The would be really useful for educators and for powerpoint presentations. The only drawback is that they are in TIF format and some of them could use some retouching. (Photo by University of Colorado, made available by NOAA/NGDC)
Geologic Hazards
Preparing for the Big One: Assessing American Building Codes
Audio files and PowerPoint presentations from an ENR-moderated panel discussion on June 8, 2010 discussing US seismic codes in the context of the observations made from the recent Haiti and Chile earthquakes. The 2010 earthquakes […]
Geologic Hazards
Landslide Insurance Very Rare
There were just a few sentences in this article/blog post about landslide insurance. Most geoprofessionals realize that home-owners insurance does not cover landslides, floods or most other geologic hazards. But what I found interesting in […]