The Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) Board ofDirectors is pleased to announce its 2019 award winners! Each category acknowledged is listed below:
WSSPC Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented to Laura Kelly for Dedication and Leadership in Earthquake Risk Reduction. Laura Kelly, Vice-Chair of the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission, has served for over eighteen years 
as a leader in earthquake engineering and risk reduction policy for Alaska’s Schools. Over the last 18 years, Laura has been a driving force behind the establishment of the Rapid Visual Screenings (RVS) for Alaska’s schools. She began tirelessly supporting this effort in 2001 when the United States Coast Guard Base Kodiak approved and funded her recommended Hazard Identification Projects for critical USCG facilities.
Ms. Kelly is a passionate, dedicated proponent of seismic mitigation and risk reduction. Equally commendable is the leadership role she has taken on the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission and her work concerning seismic safety for Alaska schools. The Alaska Seismic Hazard Safety Commission recommends goals and priorities for seismic risk mitigation to public and private sectors entities. The Commission also recommends risk mitigation policy to the governor and legislature to reduce the state’s vulnerability to earthquakes.
In 2009, Laura Kelly received the USCG Engineer of the Year award which includes recognition for seismic vulnerability studies. Her 3-D computer mapping, and seismic vulnerability study work are two examples of how she improved the Coast Guard base by highlighting and prioritizing the mitigation of at-risk shore infrastructure.
She has provided input to testimony for legislators, advocating for seismic safety through training, effective building codes, seismic design review, on-site construction inspection and education.
In addition to serving the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission, her long-time career as a professional engineer, much of it in the area of safety, Laura Kelly has worked with the Alaska chapter of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) evaluating seismic risks for many of Alaska’s schools.
WSSPC Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented to Executive Director Emeritus of the Western States Seismic Policy Council Patricia Sutch for Dedication and Leadership in Earthquake Risk Reduction.
Patti brought a wealth of relevant experience to WSSPC with her B.A. degree in Earth Sciences and Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University and her M.S. degree in Engineering Geology (with a seismic hazard focus) from Stanford University.
We would like to take this opportunity to recognize Patti’s achievements and her accomplishments here at WSSPC. Aside from being a joy to work with, Patti has truly supported WSSPC and moved it forward in providing support in Earthquake preparedness through the following achievements:
· Organized the first quadrennial National Earthquake Conference in 2000 and collaborated with consortia on the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 conferences
· Put WSSPC on a firm financial footing by building up reserves to cover a year of operation
· Invited state seismic commissions to join WSSPC resulting in 7 new WSSPC members
· Started the Lifetime and Leadership awards to recognize individuals
· Organized and sponsored Earthquake Early Warning Workshops
· Added a fast-track option for policy recommendation adoption by the states
· Established a Policy Liaison with CREW
· Added Monthly Bulletins to WSSPC outreach starting in 2014
· Added Annual Reports starting in 2007
· Re-designed the website and added a Tsunami Center and Earthquake Center
· Participated in California’s Tsunami Policy Working Group and as a NTHMP Reviewer
· Produced Earthquake Emergency Handbook to fulfill a policy recommendation
· Provided State support projects for Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming
Patti is also the Principal and President of REG Review, Inc., a company formed in 1985 to prepare geologists for the national ASBOG® geology licensing exam and California certification exams in engineering geology and hydrogeology. She has been an active volunteer with the Association of Engineering and Environmental Geologists (AEG) and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). She is a California Professional Geologist, Certified Hydrogeologist, and Certified Engineering Geologist.
Although we are going to miss Patti here at WSSPC, we wish her a happy retirement and are grateful for all she has done for this consortia.
Overall Award in Mitigation Efforts: Presented to the Utah Division of Emergency Management for “Fix the Bricks.” Salt Lake City’s Fix the Bricks is a life safety program focused on mitigating the collapse risk of unreinforced masonry buildings (URMs). There are 31,892 residential URM’s in Salt Lake City which pose a significant threat to residents during an earthquake. URMs are expected to account for 90% of the 7,400 – 9,000 serious injuries and 2,000 – 2,500 deaths when an earthquake occurs along the Wasatch Fault. Fix the Bricks plans to reduce the number of deaths, injured, and trapped after the earthquake by facilitating seismic improvements for its residents.
Educational Outreach Efforts: Presented to the Washington Emergency Management Division for Be Tsunami Siren & Evacuation Map Aware. Be Tsunami Siren & Evacuation Map Aware designed an advertising campaign targeting their coastal populations, encouraging them to walk their tsunami evacuation routes and understand the role of tsunami sirens. The themes are: “Are you in the zone?” and “Don’t wait for the siren to go off.” They did this after seeing uncertainty from the population of what to do in the face of a potential tsunami originating off the coast of Alaska in January 2018. Additionally, local emergency managers requested assistance in spreading hazard awareness messages during a tsunami siren test in October.