Special Session: Regional Seismic Network Approaches and Stakeholder Collaborations
Type: Oral
Day: 5/15/2018
Time: 11:45 AM
Room: Jasmine
Abstract
In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the Northeast Caribbean in the span of less than 2 weeks. These storms had a profound impact on the seismic and tsunami monitoring in the region. Here we will the discuss the impact of these storms on operations and equipment from the perspective of the Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN). PRSN relies on 35 seismic stations and 15 geodetic stations to monitor the region. PRSN stations have been designed to withstand earthquakes, but suffered considerable damage due to the strong winds associated with Hurricanes Irma and Maria with critcal damages to communications towers. This coupled with the collapse of telecommunication and power grids of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands during and after the hurricanes had severe effects not only to PRSN operations but also impacted regional monitoring. Additionally, the collapse of PR telecommunications grid during Maria eliminated communications between the eastern side of the island where PREMA’s main office and the National Weather Service (NWS) are based and the western side where PRSN is based. During and in the immediate aftermath of Maria, using the satellite based EMWIN system and radio communications PRSN became the only information source for NWS warnings and bulletins, tsunami alerts, and earthquake information for western PR. Given the functional radio and geographic location of the PRSN, PRSN also became a critical communications relay for local emergency management in the immediate aftermath. Currently, the PRSN is operational and continuing to recuperate stations. However, PRSN is also redesigning our stations to improve station resiliency for future catastrophic events to maintain data continuity not only for the PRSN but also to ensure that partner agencies continue to receive critical data from the Northeast Caribbean. PRSN is additionally assessing our continuity of operations plan and implementation to improve the PRSN human response to future events.
Author(s):
Vanacore E. A. Puerto Rico Seismic Network, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Baez-Sánchez G. Puerto Rico Seismic Network
Lugo J. Puerto Rico Seismic Network
Lopez A. M. University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Huerfano V. A. Puerto Rico Seismic Network, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Puerto Rico Seismic Network Operations, Damages, and Recovery from a Natech Disaster
Session
Regional Seismic Network Approaches and Stakeholder Collaborations