Lifeline is an earthquake engineering term denoting those systems
necessary for human life and urban function, without which large
urban regions cannot exist. Lifelines basically convey food, water,
fuel, energy, information, and other materials necessary for human
existence from the production areas to the consuming urban areas.
Prolonged disruption of lifelines such as the water supply or
electric power for a city or urbanized region would inevitably lead
to major economic losses, deteriorated public health, and
eventually population migration. Earthquakes are probably the most
likely natural disaster that would lead to major lifeline
disruption. With the advent of more and more advanced technology,
the United States has increasingly become dependent on the reliable
provision of lifeline related commodities, such as electric power,
fuel, and water. A natural question is: What is the potential for
major disruption to these lifelines, especially at the regional
level? The initiation of this study by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) is based in part on a need to better
understand the impact of disruption of lifelines, from earthquakes
and to assist in the identification and prioritization of hazard
mitigation measures and policies. In addition, the report is
intended to improve national awareness of the importance of
protecting lifeline systems from earthquakes, and of assuring
lifeline reliability and continued serviceability. The specific
contractual requirements of this project and report are: To assess
the extent and distribution of existing U.S. lifelines, and their
associated seismic risk; and To identify the most critical
lifelines, and develop a prioritized series of steps for reduction
of lifeline seismic vulnerability, based on overall benefit. FEMA
is also sponsoring a companion study to develop and demonstrate a
model methodology for assessing the seismic vulnerability and
impact of disruption of water transmission and distribution
systems. In this initial study, lifelines of critical importance at
the U.S. national level have been analyzed to estimate overall
seismic vulnerability and to identify those lifelines having the
greatest economic impact, given large, credible U. S. earthquakes.
The lifelines examined include electric systems; water, gas, and
oil pipelines; highways and bridges; airports; railroads; ports;
and emergency service facilities. The vulnerability estimates and
impacts developed are presented in terms of estimated direct damage
losses and indirect economic losses. These losses are considered to
represent a first approximation because of the assumptions and
methodology utilized, because several lifelines are not included,
and because, in some cases, the available lifeline inventory data
lack critical capacity information.
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