This award supports cooperative research on the reduction of fire risk from earthquake-generated tsunamis (large waves) to be conducted by Jane and Rolf Preuss of Urban Regional Research in Seattle, Washington and Julio Kuroiwa of the National University of Engineering of Peru. First, the vulnerability to ignition of fuel sources in the port of Callao will be analyzed and correlated in terms of fire spread with the population and greater area of the port. The emphasis will be on gross damage potential rather than monetary loss. Then, a risk management program will be developed which will combine risk mitigation and emergency preparedness measures. The Peruvian team will have the responsibility for data collection and public coordination. Urban Regional Research will assist technically in the preparation of alternative plans, evaluation techniques and preparation of the detailed site plans. While Lima is the case study area, there are many comparable U.S. ports with similar potential for risk such as Anchorage, Alaska, badly damaged in 1964. Methodologies for defining and responding to risk will aid both countries even when fire and contamination are not caused by tsunamis.
