The main objective of the SERAMAR project has been to utilize current tools for earthquake risk assessment and to establish a unique partnership between universities, professional associations, and local governments, which might serve as a model for similar future activities in Turkey and adjacent areas. In order to reach this goal, a thorough microzonation survey program combined with vulnerability and social preparedness studies in anticipation of a damaging seismic event were conducted. The paper is focused on activities related to surveying building stock and classifying and evaluating through the use of different levels of consideration. Empirical risk scenarios and casualty estimations are carried out for different levels of consideration under scenario earthquakes similar in size to historic events. Preliminary findings of the pilot phase are reported in terms of credible building performance and casualty estimates. For empirical studies, the building vulnerabilities are expressed in terms of vulnerability classes of EMS‐98.