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County Seismic Vulnerability Analysis – Oneida, Bear Lake, Franklin, and Caribou Counties (Idaho)

Seismic Vulnerability Analysis

Satellite map of Idaho and surrounding states with red lines marking fault zones and gray areas highlighting mapped geologic features.

The Southeastern Idaho Resilience Plan was developed through a partnership between the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, FEMA, Boise State University’s Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute, and local leaders. Its purpose was to assess the seismic vulnerability of critical unreinforced masonry buildings in four counties—Oneida, Bear Lake, Franklin, and Caribou—and provide actionable strategies to reduce earthquake-related risks. Using FEMA’s Rapid Visual Screening method and Hazus modeling, the project evaluated priority structures in each county, identifying those most in need of further engineering review and recommending both structural and non-structural mitigation measures. The assessments also linked earthquake hazards to other potential impacts, such as landslides and infrastructure disruptions, providing a comprehensive picture of local vulnerabilities. 

The four plans outline practical steps for risk reduction—ranging from retrofitting facilities and securing equipment to enhancing local building codes, conducting public outreach, and pursuing funding through state and federal sources. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration among community leaders, technical experts, and residents, encouraging the integration of seismic resilience into local planning, infrastructure investment, and emergency preparedness. Ultimately, this four-county effort serves as both a technical resource and a community engagement tool, aimed at helping southeastern Idaho strengthen its capacity to withstand and recover from future earthquakes while safeguarding lives, property, and the continuity of essential services.

People

Faculty:
Lee Liberty
Brittany Brand
Robert Hamilton
Yang Lu

Students: 
Kolby McClure, Civil Engineering
Donglei Wang, Civil Engineering
Alessia Molino, Physics
Grant Goertzen, Civil Engineering
Alexandra Friel, Geoscience
Owen Walsh, Geoscience
Adam Dickson, Geoscience
Tianjie Zhang, Computer Science

Project Collaborations

  • Tetra Tech 
  • Idaho Office of Emergency Management