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Program Manager:
Ms.
Suzanne Lewis
Earthquake Program Manager
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
1 MEMA Drive
Jackson, Mississippi 39208
Phone: (601) 933-6368
Fax: Fax: (601) 933-6815
Email: slewis@mema.ms.gov
Program Statement:
Program Overview
Earthquakes can happen
anywhere, even in Mississippi. Earthquakes have occurred in all
parts of the state. The strongest earthquake in Mississippi was
between Charleston and Batesville in northern Mississippi in 1931.
People in Mississippi can also feel shaking from earthquakes that
occur in other states. Earthquakes can affect any of us in Mississippi.
We need to be prepared and know what to do when our house or school
starts to shake from an earthquake. MEMA's Earthquake Program continues
to focus on those work elements essential to earthquake hazard reduction.
The program is broad in scope and includes research, public awareness
and education, training, preparedness, response and recovery planning,
and mitigation initiatives. Federal, State and Local partnerships
play an important role in accomplishing objectives of the program.
Increased emphasis has been given to mitigation as a central component
of seismic risk reduction.
Current Projects
Schoolbook Covers Project
- In 1999 the Earthquake Program Successfully designed and developed
a schoolbook cover that was oriented for grades K through 12. It
was full color on both sides and they were printed up for about
13.9 cents a copy. 25,000 of the covers were printed up and distributed
throughout the 17 county area according to population. In 2000 the
Earthquake Program plans to have about 100,000 of these printed
and distributed with funding from MEMA, MDEQ Office of Geology,
FEMA, and MDOT.
HAZUS
Program Development - The HAZUS Program
is essentially a loss estimation program that will be used for the
planning and response to an earthquake. The Earthquake Program is
sponsoring a GIS Technician from MARIS to go to EMI in order to
assess the best way for MEMA to implement HAZUS into its operation.
MARIS Mapping
Project - The Earthquake Program has been working with MARIS
in order to get a new set of maps developed for the response of
a minor or major earthquake in Northwest Mississippi. The maps are
scheduled to be completed no later the March 31, 2000.
Satellite
Communications Project - The progress of this project is going
precisely as projected. Three Counties have been completely installed
on the 1999 budget. Once the full and part time counties have been
completed then the program will start installing the non-participating
counties, as they become available and willing to pursue the project.
Earthquake
Information Mail Outs - As requests for information come in
they are answered in a very timely manner regardless what their
affiliation is, be it local government, EMA, or student. In 1999
all 17 county EMA's and School Superintendents received a detailed
mailing that included the latest information available from FEMA,
CUSEC, and MEMA that pertained to earthquake literature, pamphlets,
handouts, posters, maps, and videos.
County Director
Relationships - One of the main goals of the Earthquake Program
is to build the best possible working relationships with all 17
of the Earthquake County Directors regardless of their participation
status. With out their support any program efforts would be futile
and unfulfilling.
ATC-20 &
ATC-21 Development - The development of these two programs will
take place expectedly after the conference and likely in 2001.
Brochure
Stands - This is a good project that will hopefully be completed
by the end of the year. I intend to get approximately 20 stands
designed and purchased for the 17 counties. It will be a good way
for MEMA to get some visibility with the locals and it also provides
a service for the County Directors by giving them something to put
publications in.
Urban Search
and Rescue - The Earthquake Program is planning to organize
a state-wide team that will have the capability to respond to any
disaster. There is a great need for this, especially for the Earthquake
Counties.
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