Background
The West Tennessee Seismic Safety Commission (WTSSC) was created in 2006 through the Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Section 4 and has been tasked to initiate, with the assistance of state, federal, and local government agencies, a comprehensive program to prepare the state for responding to a major earthquake. The WTSSC is a twelve (12) member board appointed as follows: two (2) members chosen by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two (2) members chosen by the Speaker of the Senate and eight (8) members appointed by the governor to represent the following professional areas: architecture, fire protection, public utilities, engineering, geology or seismology, local government, insurance, business, emergency health services, nonprofit emergency assistance, local education and emergency management.
The Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) at the University of Memphis (created by Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-8-602) is authorized to and directed to provide any information or services requested by the commission to achieve its goals.