Vision
The Association of Bay Area Governments is the lead regional agency in the Bay Area in creating a disaster-resistant and resilient Bay Area where our communities are prepared to withstand and quickly recover from the effects of earthquakes and natural hazards.
Mission
ABAG’s earthquake and hazards program provides the tools and technical support to residents, businesses, schools, local governments and building professionals to reduce our region’s risk from earthquakes and natural hazards. We do this through collaboration, research, advocacy, education, communication, and technical assistance to develop and implement disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery strategies.
Program Background
In the past ABAG’s main areas of research have been in:
1. Developing earthquake and other hazards maps for the San Francisco Bay Area
2. Estimating damaged and destroyed housing units in future Bay Area earthquakes and ideas to mitigate those losses;
3. Examining the impact of various natural hazards on infrastructure systems, including transportation, transit, airports, water, and wastewater.
4. Projects to develop public information on earthquake mitigation, business continuity and driving safety that are based on communication of scientific information in an innovative and scientifically valid way, including through development of the Program web site.
5. Regional planning efforts, including leading the effort to prepare and update the multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area, in both the 2005 version and the 2010 update. In the future ABAG plans to prepare a coordinated disaster recovery plan for the region.
As background for these efforts, ABAG staff have investigated the impacts of past earthquakes and disasters on transportation systems, housing, and disaster recovery, including Coalinga, Imperial Valley, Santa Rosa, Whittier, Loma Prieta, Turkey, Northridge, and Hurricane Katrina.
These projects have been funded by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Science Foundation, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) American Red Cross, the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), the California Office of Traffic Safety, Caltrans, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The Association of Bay Area Governments is the regional planning agency for the nine counties and 101 cities and towns of the San Francisco Bay region. ABAG is committed to leading the region through advocacy, collaboration, and excellence in planning, research, housing, and member services to advance the quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. ABAG’s planning and service programs work to address regional economic, social, and environmental challenges.
