Overcoming barriers : lifeline seismic improvement programs.

Includes bibliographical references

In spite of often repeated barriers to natural hazards risk reduction, the seven large lifeline organizations evaluated in this book have undertaken significant seismic improvement programs. This study of these organizations demonstrates the variety of ways in which these organizations have started and sustained these programs. Educated by past earthquakes damaging their system or similar systems, and by past research and educational programs, top-level managers and their trusted high-level inside technical seismic advocates in economically and politically robust organizations have developed an overall view of their system earthquake vulnerabilities and developed adaptable. incremental siesmic implemantation programs. Multiple oversight organizations have contributed little to this process. Broad cultural, economic, and political changes, though, including maturation of the systems, shifts from an engineering to a professional management orientation, and federal initiatives that are not coordinated with natural hazards risk reduction programs, now have the potential to deconstruct some seismic improvement programs currently in place