Association of Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium State Geologists

Products

The first product of CUSEC-SG was a 1:2,000,000-scale (1 inch represents about 32 miles) general seismic hazard map for the CUSEC seven-state region. Produced in 1995, the map shows areas where thick, soft soils exist that are expected to amplify earthquake ground shaking. This map was totally revised in 1999 with the help of the U.S. Geological Survey's Mid-Continent Mapping Center. Paper copies of this map are available from the CUSEC Memphis office and electronically through the CUSEC-SG Electronic Maps page on this Web site.

Current CUSEC-SG products are maps, at a scale of 1:250,000 (1 inch represents about 4 miles), showing how the soils will amplify earthquake ground motions. These maps represent about 83,100 square miles and cover the areas in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee that are at high risk from impacts from earthquakes in the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones. These maps of soil amplification are critical in producing realistic estimates of damage when using the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Earthquake Loss Estimation Program (HAZUS). These maps may also be used by themselves to indicate relative areas of shaking and areas where liquefaction may occur. An example of our map products is shown on this page; it is a microzonation map of Carbondale Township in Jackson County that classifies earth materials by their potential to amplify ground motions during an earthquake

We are currently mapping, at a scale of 1:24,000 (1 inch represents 2,000 feet), in the cities of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Carbondale, Illinois; Evansville, Indiana; Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and West Memphis, Arkansas. Additional cities or areas will be mapped and copies will be provided to the communities for their future planning work with the aid of HAZUS.

Updated 09/09/09 RAB