MEDIA ADVISORY: USGS AND GOVERNMENT OF AFGHANISTAN TO UNVEIL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS ASSESSMENT OF AFGHANISTAN

[Clarice E Ransom <cransom@xxxxxxxx>]

Media Advisory
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

Release Date: May 25, 2007

Contacts: 
Joshua Gross, Media Relations Director
(202) 292-4285 / (202) 657-8052
(cell)
gross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Clarice Nassif Ransom, Public Affairs
Specialist, USGS
703-648-4299
cransom@xxxxxxxx

USGS AND GOVERNMENT OF AFGHANISTAN
TO UNVEIL EARTHQUAKE
HAZARDS ASSESSMENT OF AFGHANISTAN

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –
On May 30, the Embassy of Afghanistan
will host U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) officials as they unveil an earthquake
hazards assessment of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

To assist in the reconstruction efforts of this landlocked nation, the USGS was commissioned by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Afghanistan to develop a preliminary Seismic-Hazard Map of Afghanistan. This report incorporates data from thousands of historical earthquakes, information about active faults, and models of how earthquake energy travels through the Earth’s crust to define expected levels of ground shaking throughout the country.

The newly released seismic-hazard map of Afghanistan provides government officials, engineers, and private companies who are interested in participating in Afghanistan’s economic growth with crucial information about the location and nature of seismic hazards. This new information will enable officials to make informed decisions about the designs and locations of critical structures such as power plants, dams, pipelines, and hospitals and will facilitate growth and development throughout Afghanistan by designing facilities that can better withstand strong earthquakes.

        Who:                H.E. Said Tayeb Jawad, Ambassador, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan        
                Mark Myers, Director, U.S. Geological Survey
                               
                When:                Wednesday, May 30, 2007
        3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Where:        Embassy of Afghanistan
                        2341 Wyoming Ave. NW
                        Washington, D.C. 20008

Registration is required: Due to limited space, members of the media must pre-register by contacting Joshua Gross:  gross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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