Earthquake-mail (E-mail?) for low-seismic zone earthquake hazard assessment

Abstract The Roermond earthquake of 13 April 1992 in the Netherlands, of magnitude 5.8 on the Richter scale, although claiming only one fatality through a heart-attack, caused significant damage estimated at £30–40 million. The low recurrence determined at 135 years for an earthquake of this magnitude, does not encourage the funding of research despite the large quantity of data assembled, especially in connection with surveys to assess compensation grants from the earthquake hazard fund set up by the Netherlands government. Electronic mail (E-mail) is a tool made used both to transfer information and solicit information. An earthquake mail facility could be integrated in a Seismological Engineering Information System (SEIS). Such a facility is being set up to provide links between users and suppliers of the data and analysis methods in the SEIS. An earthquake discussion box, on E-mail, concerned with problems in earthquake engineering in low-seismicity countries in northwest Europe is a cautious preliminary initiative to provide a communication platform between researchers in seismology and earthquake engineering.