Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges USGS Natural Hazards Science in the Coming Decade

1. Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges USGS Natural Hazards Science in the Coming Decade Dr. Mark Myers March 7, 2007 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

2. A National Framework for Natural Hazards Risk Reduction and Management Developing a Research Agenda • Enhancing the use of scientific information to reduce societal vulnerability and risk from hazards; • Identifying how spatial data can most effectively enable and empower decision-making at the local, state and national levels; and • Addressing the alignment of incentives and predicted behavior at both the national and local levels to advance public interest.

3. Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction National Science and Technology Council # 1 – Provide hazard and disaster information where and when it is needed. # 2 – Understand the natural processes that produce hazards. # 3 – Develop hazard mitigation strategies and technologies. # 4 – Recognize and reduce vulnerability of interdependent critical infrastructure. # 5 – Assess disaster resilience using standard methods. # 6 – Promote risk-wise behavior.

4. Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges:USGS Science in the Coming Decade • Understanding Ecosystems and Predicting Ecosystem Change • Ensuring the Nation’s Economic and Environmental Future • The Role of the Environment and Wildlife in Human Health • A Warning System for Environmental Risk to Public Health in America • A Water Census of the United States • Quantifying, Forecasting, and Securing Freshwater for America’s Future • A National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment Program • Ensuring the Long-Term Health and Wealth of the Nation • Climate Variability and Change • Clarifying the Record and Assessing the Consequences • Energy and Minerals for America’s Future • Providing a Scientific Foundation for Decision-Makers

5. A National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment ProgramEnsuring the Long-Term Health and Wealth of the Nation • Strategic Science Actions: • Expand and modernize USGS monitoring and communications capabilities. • Increase research into the causes and consequences of: coastal erosion earthquakes floods geomagnetic storms landslides tsunamis volcanoes wildfires zoonotic diseases • Enhance understanding of the linkages among natural hazards, the environment, climate, and society, and ways the climate influences the frequency and intensity of natural-hazard events. • Form an intra-bureau hazards working group of scientists. Avian Influenza Emerging Wildlife Disease Fire Science

6. A National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment ProgramEnsuring the Long-Term Health and Wealth of the Nation • Strategic Science Actions: • Develop a core of USGS and partner researchers focusing on vulnerability science to: • develop local, regional and national indicators and visualization tools. • conduct case studies to assess vulnerability and resilience of communities, ecosystems and economies. • Develop a national risk-monitoring program. • Create a bureau-wide disaster assistance strategy. • Develop communication strategies and decision-support products that focus on understanding societal risk and resilience to natural hazards. San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

7. Achieving the Vision:Extending Research Through Partnerships • Build and strengthen the internal workforce through the development of external partnerships in environmental information science. • Identify and leverage national and international efforts that promote comprehensive data and information management and foster greater sharing of knowledge and expertise.