J.-P. Conoscente and L. Johnson (EQE International, Paris, France)

In the immediate aftermath of a major damaging natural catastrophe, local governments, insurance companies and other private sector organizations face the difficult task of rapidly allocating life safety services and identifying severely damaged structures, particularly damage to critical facilities. In the past, this task has often been characterized by a lengthy period of reconnaissance during which inaccurate reports, distortions, and rumors must be separated from factual disaster intelligence painstakingly gathered from multiple sources. The utilization of loss estimation techniques, including near real-time estimations of building, and lifeline damage and casualties associated with a GIS mapping system is a key to efficient emergency response and early recovery decision making in the immediate post-event context. An example of such system developed by EQE International is presented. The system utilizes real-time seismic information, digitized soil information and damage and casualty estimation models and was used by the California Office of Emergency Services in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Such systems are applicable in all countries subjected to earthquakes and other damaging natural perils, such as floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.