The 1999 Kocalei, Turkey Earthquake and Puerto Rico

This paper compares the earthquake hazard environments of the Kocalei (Izmit), Turkey and Puerto Rico regions. This comparison helps to understand what happened in the August 17, 1999 Kocalei earthquake and to develop scenarios on what is likely to happen in the future. It also provides a framework for hazard assessments that give realistic answers to the questions: where? how big?, and how severe?. The aim is to transfer the new data, lessons, and experiences from the Kocalei earthquake to other earthquake-prone regions in Turkey as well as to other locations like Puerto Rico. This assessment is a contribution toward the integration of all aspects of the hazard, built, and policy environments. Such integration can lead to long-term sustainable development in global perspective for earthquakes.