Earthquake Resilience Act

This bill aims to make communities safer after earthquakes. It orders a nationwide look at how well cities and towns can handle quakes, what’s working, and where the weak spots are. The study must be done within two years after the bill becomes law and will be led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, working with FEMA, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

It also updates the national earthquake program to push for clear standards, guidelines, and shared codes that help basic lifeline services bounce back faster after a quake. This work would be coordinated, as needed, by a national group focused on lifeline infrastructure.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Federal science and emergency agencies, state and local governments, Tribal and territorial governments, and other stakeholders involved in earthquake readiness and lifeline services.
• What changes: A national risk assessment of earthquake resilience and new efforts to develop common standards and codes to speed the recovery of lifeline services after earthquakes.
• When: The national risk assessment is due within two years after the bill becomes law.