Emergency Response Program

After the terrorist events of September 11th 2001, it became obvious that a disaster of previously unthinkable magnitudes was possible. The unprecedented need for structural engineering technical assistance in these situations mandates a level of preparedness to ensure the most immediate, efficient, and effective response in possible future disasters. For this reason, in November of 2001, NCSEA formed an Ad Hoc committee named the "Structural Engineering Emergency Response Committee (SEER Committee)" to investigate opportunities and establish a framework for structural engineers to become more widely trained and nationally organized to assist local jurisdictions with post disaster assessment and recovery.

• SEER Committee Members
• ATC-45 Speakers

SEERP Mission Statement

The major task of this committee will be to prepare a manual outlining a comprehensive Structural Engineering Emergency Response Plan (SEERP). The primary focus of the SEERP will be to develop the framework for an immediate response by structural engineers to perform structural assessments after a major disaster has occurred. The use of the SEERP will result in the implementing states having teams of structural engineers ready to efficiently and safely respond to a structural disaster when requested to assist a government agency or similar entity.

Some of the detailed information provided in this manual will include:

• Assembling and managing structural engineering emergency response teams.
• Guidelines for performing building assessments after a major disaster (This would be a modified ATC-20 type system)
• Guidelines for performing transportation structure assessment after a major disaster.
• Presentation of site safety information and legal considerations of the emergency response system.
• Present information explaining the operations of federal agencies and other organizations that lead emergency response efforts.
• Suggestions for coordination of regions of United States to provide assistance to a state or states within their region.
• Providing Resource Information: Information on training programs, agency contact information, standard forms (field documentation, engineer volunteer information forms, legal documents etc.)

Obtaining the Manual

To order the SEERplan Manual, please download the order form (right), print it, fill it out, and send it to the NCSEA offices. The cost of the manual is $25.

The SEERP World Trade Center Report

This document was written as a resource for the preparation of an emergency response plan for mobilizing structural engineers for a search and rescue operation under extreme emergency conditions. More specifically, it was developed for preparing a response plan that uses structural engineers after a major collapse or failure.

ATC-45 Speakers

To schedule an instructor for an ATC-45 course in your state, contact:

Jan Diepstra
NCSEA
645 N. Michigan Avenue, #540
Chicago, IL 60611
P-312-649-4600 Ext. 202
F-312-649-5840
Contact via Email...