Recovery Act Funding Goes Towards Earthquake Monitoring

Posted by Alexandra Matiella Novak Jun 16, 2009

The USGS is responsibly spending its Recovery Act Funding by investing in technology and employing students, all while keeping America safer.

Department of the Interior Recovery Investments

Those that questioned why the USGS needed stimulus money are nowhere to be found as recent college graduates are hired and expensive monitoring equipment is bought from the small business that provide them.

Benefits

• modernize aging equipment needed for earthquake monitoring
• new equipment will lower future maintenance costs
• investments in earthquake monitoring meet criteria of being “temporary, targeted and timely” – spending that will flow directly into the economy
• new monitoring stations will be more energy efficient
• engaging students provides an educational experience that will help to develop future earthquake scientists
• modernization of our nation’s earthquake networks will deliver faster, more reliable, robust information
• this information will help to save lives in the wake of natural disasters that can strike at any time in many states across the nation
• many of these instruments were designed and developed right here in the U.S. by small businesses