Project AF8: developing a coodinated, multi-agency response plan for a future great Alpine Fault earthquake.

Abstract

The Alpine Fault is the most major source of seismic hazard in the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, with the potential to produce a magnitude 8+ earthquake, associated ground shaking, landslides and liquefaction, and severe, widespread and long-term impacts throughout southern and central New Zealand. Scientific investigation of the hazard and risk posed by the Alpine Fault to Aotearoa New Zealand society over recent decades, and several recent large earthquake disasters (the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence and the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake) have created considerable national, regional and local awareness and motivation to boost disaster risk management efforts for major earthquakes. In July 2016, a project to develop a collective South Island emergency response plan was initiated, in partnership with all South Island Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) groups and the Alpine Fault research community. This has become known as Project AF8 (Alpine Fault, magnitude 8). We describe the development and outcomes of the project, with the aim of enhancing societal resilience to a future Alpine Fault earthquake.