CUSEC participates in St. Jude Dream Home® Groundbreaking January 2012 - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, CUSEC, the Insurance
Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), Southern Serenity Homes, and State Farm®, recently
participated in the groundbreaking ceremony to construct a new St. Jude Dream
Home®. The Dream Home® is a fundraising
effort for the Hospital, with proceeds directed to research programs which increase
the knowledge and treatment of childhood cancer and disease. The house will be the fifth St. Jude Dream
Home® built by Southern Serenity Homes, whose efforts have helped raise more
than $5 million for St. Jude.
This will be the first St. Jude Dream Home® built using
IBHS’ FORTIFIED for Safer Living® building standards. These standards increase a building’s
strength and overall resistance to disasters.
In this Dream Home®, earthquake and high wind events will be the focus
of the FORTIFIED standards. FORTIFIED disaster resistant upgrades are being
provided courtesy of State Farm®. For
more information about the effort, visit the IBHS webpage, which has press
releases, and other information available for download.
Great Central U.S. ShakeOut recognized in Washington, D.C.for Disaster Preparedness Awards
January 2012 - Recently, the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut was awarded "Outstanding Exercise, Drill, or Event" as part of the 2011 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. CUSEC, the lead coordinating organization for the ShakeOut, accepted the award on behalf of our Member and Associate States in Washington, D.C. on January 18-19, 2012. Along with 16 other programs from around the nation, the CUSEC and the ShakeOut were also honored to be recognized by the White House as "Champions of Change". This program is part of President Obama's initiative to recognize individuals, organizations, and groups who are leading the nation in their respective areas of work and community service. As part of the program, a blog post "Disaster Preparedness is a Partnership Effort" was featured on the White House website and honorees were assembled for a panel discussion on Disaster Preparedness with U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino. CUSEC is honored to have the ShakeOut be considered one of the top disaster preparedness programs in the country. You can read more about the FEMA awards here.
Online Registration is now OPEN for the National Earthquake Conference
Dates: April 10-13, 2012
Location: Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee
Registration Fees:
Early Bird Registration ends January 31: $395
January 15 to March 15: $450
After March 15: $550
With the theme of "Learning from the Past to Protect the Future," the
joint National Earthquake Conference and Earthquake Engineering
Research Institute (EERI) Annual Conference program commemorates the
200th anniversary of the historic series of strong earthquakes that
struck the New Madrid seismic zone in late 1811 and early 1812. It will
feature many lessons from recent and historic earthquakes that are
applicable to the practice of U.S. professionals. The meeting is jointly
hosted by EERI and the NEHRP consortia*, and will consist of both
plenary and concurrent sessions to ensure an abundance of offerings for
engineers, scientists, emergency managers, and policy makers.
Visit http://2012am.eeri.org/
for information about the program, the hotel, and how to submit
abstracts for one of the poster sessions (deadline January 23).
200 Years Ago December 16, 2011 - Two hundred years ago today, a major earthquake struck the New
Madrid Seismic Zone. This earthquake
was the first of several major seismic events that rocked the central U.S.
during the winter of 1811-12. Were they
to happen today, these earthquakes could cause widespread damage and disruption
to the region. If a major earthquake were to happen today, would you be
prepared? Would you or your family
members know how to respond? Take time
now, to become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters. What we do now,
before the next big earthquake, will determine what our lives are like
afterwards. If you haven’t yet,
please sign up for the Great
Central U.S. ShakeOut, which is scheduled for February 7, 2012 at
10:15AM. Take the time now, to ensure that you are
properly prepared for earthquakes.
New CUSEC Chairman Elected
December 2011 - Paul Parmenter, Director of Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was elected CUSEC Board Chairman at a recent Board meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi. Jonathan Monken, Illinois Emergency Management Agency(IEMA) Director was elected Vice-Chairman. Parmenter was
appointed as SEMA Director (SEMA) in March
of 2009 and Monken as Director of IEMA in February of 2011. Both have distinguished careers in public service and safety.
Outgoing Board Chairman BG John Heltzel, Kentucky Div. of Emergency Management, leaves behind several enduring accomplishments during his tenure. General Heltzel led several key planning efforts in the CUSEC states including the formation of the CUSEC Member States Technology Working group and the development of the 2010 Resources Allocation Workshop, which identified what types of needs and resources would be needed by states following a major earthquake, and how those resources would be delivered. CUSEC would like to thank General Heltzel for his leadership over the past several years as chairman, and congratulate Directors Parmenter and Monken on their newly elected positions on the CUSEC Board of Directors.
ShakeOut wins FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award
October 2011 - This week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the winners of the 2011
FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards. Formerly called the
National Citizen Corps Achievement Awards, the name was changed to
reflect FEMA’s intent to recognize the innovative and outstanding
achievements of all of the individuals, communities, and organizations
working to ensure that the United States is better prepared and more
resilient. Organized by the Central US Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) and
its Member and Associate Member States, the Great Central US ShakeOut
won the award for “Outstanding Drill, Exercise, or Event.” This honor
recognizes the achievements of individuals who work everyday to increase
awareness about the earthquake hazard in the central United States and
the promotion of greater preparedness efforts among its citizens,
businesses and all levels of government.
Leadership from the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA),
the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), and FEMA
selected this event as an award recipient out of numerous applicants
among 36 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Award
submissions reflected the whole of community approach to emergency
management, and included entries from faith-based, tribal, non-profit,
private sector, community-based organizations and individuals. Out of
these many submissions, The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut was selected as a creative approach to educating and promoting earthquake readiness. For more information on the awards, visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/councils/awards/2011/awardwinners2011.shtm
National Earthquake Awards in Excellence Announced
October 2011 - The Awards in
Excellence are given every year by the Western States Seismic Policy Council.
Every fourth year the award nominations are solicited nationally in partnership
with the Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC), the Central U.S.
Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), and the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup
(CREW). The 2012 National Awards in Excellence will be awarded for exemplary
programs, projects, and products that have significantly contributed to
addressing earthquake risk reduction through demonstrated achievements in
earthquake mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
The purpose
of the Awards in Excellence is to acknowledge and facilitate the exchange of
programs, projects or products that have significantly contributed to addressing
earthquake risk reduction through demonstrated achievements in earthquake
mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The WSSPC 2012
Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to recognize an outstanding leader in
earthquake risk reduction who is still practicing in his or her
profession. The recipient will have demonstrated throughout his or her
career an extraordinary commitment, level of service, and contribution to
earthquake risk reduction.
All Awards
will be presented at the 2012 National Earthquake Conference, which is being
held April 10-14, 2012 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Award
nominations are due December 30, 2011. Nomination
forms and information on the submission process are available at the WSSPC
website at http://www.wsspc.org/awards/nominations.shtml
FEMA to Host National Lessons Learned Conference September 2011 - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/National Exercise Division (NED) will host its inaugural National Lessons Learned Conference (NLLC) in Arlington, VA, September 13–14, 2011, in association with the September 11, 2001, 10-year anniversary. The NLLC features plenary sessions and interactive panel discussions each day. This conference is open to all emergency managers, planners, exercise professionals, training and education professionals, responders, exercise media, exercise modeling and simulation professionals, disaster preparedness professionals, private sector participants, and “Whole Community” partners.
The NLLC will allow participants to review lessons learned from 10 years of national level and linked exercises specific to improving the readiness of the United States to prepare for, respond to, and recover from an event of national significance, and to engage in discussions covering several thematic areas of exercise design, response, recovery, and policy. The NLLC is a great opportunity for participants to apply lessons learned to their agency’s training and exercise program within an interactive forum. FEMA/NED’s intent is to sponsor a forum where exercise planners, participants, policy and procedure planners, and operations staff can share and apply experiences and lessons learned from a broad series of national level and linked exercises, as well as real-world events. The target audience for this conference includes emergency managers, planners, exercise professionals, training and education professionals, responders, exercise media, exercise modeling and simulation professionals, disaster preparedness professionals, private sector participants, and Whole Community partners. Also, on September 15, 2011, FEMA/Office of Response and Recovery (ORR) will host an invitation-only, interactive forum on future collaborative national planning efforts. An invitation-only State and Federal interagency National Planning System workshop hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Office of Response and Recovery (ORR). To request an invitation, please contact
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.
When: September 13–14, 2011 from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EDT
Where: Sheraton National Hotel
900 South Orme Street | Arlington, VA 22204
Phone: 703-521-1900 | Toll-Free: 1-800-325-3535
Register in advance at: www.exerciseLLC.com On-site registration begins at 7:00 a.m. EDT
National Preparedness Month September 2011 - Today is September 1, which means it’s officially National
Preparedness Month. Hurricane Irene, the east coast earthquake, and this
year’s midwest floods and tornadoes in Tuscaloosa and Joplin have all been
critical reminders about the importance of preparedness. FEMA Administrator
Craig Fugate is in New York City today kicking off National Preparedness Month,
helping to get the word out and asking people: Are you ready? As you
prepare your community, we need your help to continue to get the word out. To
join the National Preparedness Month Coalition and start making a difference
today visit - http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/READYNPM
Earthquake Rocks East Coast August 2011 - At approximately 1:51PM local time on Tuesday August
23, 2011 a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near Mineral, Virginia, about
40 miles northwest of Richmond, Virginia and 90 miles southwest of
Washington, D.C. The earthquake is the highest magnitude earthquake to
strike Virginia in more than six decades. This earthquake was felt in several states along the
eastern United States seaboard, caused some injuries and minor
damage, more than 125,000 people reported feeling the earthquake on the USGS Did You Feel it Website. If you felt this
earthquake, please visit their site to report your experience.
Map Your Neighborhood comes to the Central U.S. July 2011 - As part of the New Madrid Bicentennial, the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission
is implementing a program in the central U.S. to create better prepared
and more self-reliant neighboorhoods. This program is known as “Map Your Neighborhood“. The primary goal of Map Your Neighborhood is to prepare neighborhoods
(generally 15-20 homes in urban areas, 6-7 in rural areas) to be
self-reliant during the first hours of a disaster response, when
traditional 9-1-1 responders are overwhelmed by demand. The program
prepares neighbors to help themselves and others with an easy, simple
and friendly set of activities.
Map Your Neighborhood (MYN, pronounced “mine”) was developed by Dr.
LuAn Johnson, first in Sunnyvale, CA and then in Seattle, WA. The
program was implemented state-wide by the State of Washington’s
Emergency Management Division (WA-EMD). This award-winning program has
proven its effectiveness during the February 28, 2001 Nisqually
(Seattle) Earthquake. MYN has been adopted by many states, counties and
cities and the program is being encouraged by the National Earthquake
Hazard Reduction Program. The city of Carbondale, Illinois has
enthusiastically implemented MYN. The Missouri Seismic Safety Commission
(MSSC) has endorsed MYN for Missouri and has been given permission by
WA-EMD to print the copy-written materials and conduct training. Other
states or local government offices are welcome to get information from
both WA-EMD and MSSC.
For more information on this effort, visit the MYN program page on the Bicentennial website at www.newmadrid2011.org/myn
FEMA Awards Announced July 2011 - FEMA is currently accepting submissions for the 2011 Individual and
Community Preparedness Awards. These awards recognize the innovative and
outstanding achievements of all of the individuals, communities, and
organizations working to ensure that the United States is better
prepared and more resilient. The Awards showcase the work of the Agency’s partners at the State,
territorial, local, and tribal levels. This includes non-governmental
organizations in the non-profit, faith-based, and private sector
communities, as well as and diverse individuals, families, and
communities. As an NPM Coalition Member, the work you are doing
qualifies and we encourage you to submit your activities and ideas for
consideration. Submissions can feature examples of any outstanding
achievements in individual and community preparedness worthy of
recognition. Please visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/councils/awards/2011/awards2011.shtm for full details.
Winners will be announced in during National Preparedness Month,
September 2011, and will be FEMA’s honored guests at a community
preparedness roundtable event in Washington, D.C. One winner will be
selected to attend the 2011 International Association of Emergency
Managers (IAEM) Conference in Las Vegas, NV, and to participate on a
FEMA community preparedness panel. Entries must be received by August
26, 11:59 p.m. E.D.T.
The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut May 2011 - In April of this year, communities throughout the CUSEC Member States (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee) and Associate States of Georgia, Oklahoma, and South Carolina, took part in the largest earthquake preparedness effort in this region’s history, the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. With planning taking place over the past two years, the ShakeOut was a multi-state earthquake drill where participants simultaneous practiced the recommended action to take during an earthquake: Drop, Cover and Hold On
. The event was open to the public and was designed to encourage people to think about how they would react if an earthquake were to strike and prompt them to take preventative measures before one actually hits.
Leading up to the ShakeOut, which was scheduled for April 28 at 10:15a.m., there were a number of storms, floods, and devastating tornadoes which caused widespread destruction and killed hundreds of people in several states. Many who originally intended to participate in the ShakeOut were forced to alter their plans because of the real-world disasters. Those who could continue with their plans were encouraged to do so. CUSEC continues to offer our thoughts and prayers to those who have been affected by these tragic events. For those who were able, many drills were held at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 28. There were several media and press conference events held at locations in the states, and in all, more than 3 Million across nearly 10,000 sites were expected to participate in the event.
The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut has been modeled after similar efforts in California, where ShakeOut drills have been held each year since 2008. CUSEC has worked closely with the Southern California Earthquake Center and the Earthquake Country Alliance to develop the central U.S. ShakeOut effort. It was also linked event of the New Madrid Bicentennial and the National Level (Earthquake) Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011) and was coordinated by CUSEC, along with our Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of other partners throughout the country. There are too many names to list individually, but we would like to thank the thousands of individuals in the region for their efforts in making this event a success. To read more about the ShakeOut, including stories and news about the recent drills held throughout the region,visit www.shakeout.org/centralus
Interactive Central U.S. Earthquake Map gets a New Look April 2011 - The Center for Earthquake Research and Information has given their "Recent Earthquakes" map a new look, updating it to be based around Google maps. This interactive map can be viewed in Map, Satellite, or Terrain views, and can also filter earthquakes to view different magnitudes. The map displays earthquakes that have happened in the central U.S. over the past six months. This feature rich map can be accessed by visiting http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/seismic/recenteqs/REQ2.html.
CUSEC Welcomes two new Board Members February 2011 - Springfield, Illinois: Jonathon E. Monken was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn as acting Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) on February 14, 2011. As acting director, Mr. Monken oversees Illinois' disaster preparedness and response, nuclear safety and homeland security programs, as well as the agency's 225+ employees and a budget of more than $618 million. In this capacity, he also serves as the Illinois Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor. Prior to becoming IEMA acting director, Monken served for two years as acting Director of the Illinois State Police. As acting director, he was in charge of a staff of 3,400 sworn and civilian personnel in five major divisions, including the third largest crime laboratory system in the world, and an annual agency budget of approximately $428 million.
Clanton, Alabama: Art Faulkner was appointed on January 7, 2011, by Governor Robert Bentley to serve as the director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. With nearly 22 years of experience in State and local government, Director Faulkner formerly served as the director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, the police chief of Coosada, Alabama for three years and Elmore County 9-1-1 Director/ Assistant EMA Director for three years. In 1996, Art moved to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to serve as the State 9-1-1 Coordinator. While in that position, he helped establish new 9-1-1 programs and served as an assistant to the Chairman of the State Wireless 9-1-1 Board. Director Faulkner also served as Acting Director of Operations from 2002 to 2003 and oversaw the day-to-day operations of the agency.
CUSEC wishes both Directors well in their new roles as State Emergency Management Director in their states.
CUSEC, FEMA, IBHS & States Partner to form an Earthquake Outreach Tour
January 2011 - In recognition of the bicentennial of the 1811-1812 New Madrid Earthquakes, the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) are teaming with state and local partners to bring residents and organizations in the affected region an educational campaign to help reduce their earthquake risk.
The theme of the tour is “Identify your Risk, Make a Plan, and
Take Action.” Messages will be tailored for business and residential
audiences, who will walk away with the tools they need to become better
prepared and resilient should another earthquake occur. Residents and
business owners will learn more about earthquakes in their communities;
become familiar with available resources, such as QuakeSmart and Open
for Business®, which are tools to create earthquake preparedness plans;
and, get how-to information about affordable ways to protect people and
property from earthquake risks.
The Earthquake Outreach Tour will be conducted in five states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee, during the week of Feb.7-11, 2011. The tour will conclude at the "Earthquakes: Mean Business" event on February 11 in St. Louis, which marks the official kickoff of the New Madrid Bicentennial. For more information, click here...
EarthScope Workshop for Informal Educators in the Central U.S. January 2011 - Applications are being accepted for a free EarthScope workshop for interpretive rangers and museum educators in the Central United States. The workshop coincides with the 200th Anniversary of large earthquakes that struck near New Madrid, Missouri, as well as arrival of the USArray of seismometers in the central U.S. Participants will work with scientists to develop interpretive programs focused on how society benefits from earthquake monitoring and knowledge of continental development. The workshop will be held March 17-20, 2011 at the Fogelman Executive Conference Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The EarthScope National Office will cover participant expenses while at the workshop, including shared lodging, food, materials, and field trip travel. Participants or their organizations are expected to pay their own travel costs to and from the workshop site. Details and an online application form at: http://www.earthscope.org/workshops/new_madrid
School Retrofit Webinars coming in 2011 January 2011 - In the first quarter of 2011, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency will host three FREE one-hour webinars for
school officials, teachers, facility managers, and others who are interested in
learning how to reduce earthquake risks and take actions to ensure school safety
and continued operations. Numerous school buildings located in multiple states
and U.S. territories are vulnerable to earthquake damage and losses. At these webinars, participants will learn the following:
- How to assess and analyze your earthquake risks
- How to develop an actionable plan to reduce and manage earthquake risks
- How to initiate an earthquake risk reduction plan for existing school
buildings
- How to secure “non-structural” elements of the school facility
and much more...
These webinars will be a great opportunity to learn more about the topics
above and begin preparation for the Great
Central U.S. ShakeOut. The webinars will be held on January 20, February
17, and March 17, 2011 at 3:00PM EST. Registration is free. To register please
send your preferred date to participate, name, organization, address, phone
number and email address by fax at 650-593-2320 or by email at
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by Friday, January 7,
2011.
2009 NEHRP Provisions Available
October 2010 - The
Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is
pleased to announce that the 2009 edition of the NEHRP
Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other
Structures, FEMA P-750 and FEMA P-750 CD, are now available, at
no cost, from the FEMA Publications Warehouse and online from the FEMA Library.
One of the
goals of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) is to
encourage design and construction practices that reduce the seismic risk to
property and life. FEMA’s publication of the 2009 NEHRP Provisions,
which serve as a national resource for design professionals and the standards
and codes development community, is a major ongoing commitment to achieving this
goal. In a series
first published in 1985, the 2009 NEHRP Provisions
marks the seventh update of this key resource document. This new edition adopts
by reference the national load standard, ASCE/SEI 7-05, which allows the
Provisions to
resume its role as a research-to-practice resource for introducing new
knowledge, innovative concepts, and design methods to improve the national
seismic standards and codes.
To order your
copy of FEMA P-750 with FEMA P-750 CD from the FEMA Publications Warehouse, call
1 (800) 480-2520 or fax your request to (240) 699-0525
National Preparedness Month Recap
October 2010 - September 2010 was National Preparedness Month in the United States. During the month, CUSEC hosted and participated in several events to increase awareness about the earthquake hazard in the central U.S. Those events included interacting with the public and handing out literature at three preparedness expositions, participating in two earthquake exercises, attending several meetings of public officials planning for earthquakes, presenting earthquake safety information to high school students in Memphis, TN, and presenting earthquake safety and hazard information during three business seminars, including the Mid-South Association of Contingency Planners EPIC conference and a FEMA initiative called QuakeSmart.
Most importantly, CUSEC Executive Director Jim Wilkinson had the honor of being invited to testify before the United States Senate in our nation’s capital to discuss the central U.S. earthquake threat. Video footage of Director Wilkinson’s testimony can be seen by clicking here. Even though National Preparedness Month is over, CUSEC would like to remind you that earthquakes can happen at any time, and you should always be ready.
September is National Preparedness Month
September 2010 - On September 1, 2010 FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate kicked off the seventh annual National Preparedness Month, joining local Washington, D.C. officials and students from Ferebree-Hope Elementary School at the Serve DC Commander Ready event to talk about the importance of family and community emergency preparedness, especially as Hurricane Earl approaches the East Coast of the U.S. and other storms continue to form in the Atlantic Ocean.
National Preparedness Month is led by FEMA's Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council, and is a nationwide effort encouraging individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies. National Preparedness Month is supported by a coalition of public, private and non-profit organizations that help spread the preparedness message. This year’s record number of coalition members are sharing preparedness information with their members, customers, employee, and communities. Members also spearhead activities that encourage specific steps for individual, neighborhood, and community preparedness.
In addition to the kickoff event, the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps will sponsor activities across the country throughout September. Ready is introducing several new PSA campaigns and Citizen Corps is presenting its National Achievement Awards during September.
Delta Regional Authority Announces New Co-Chair June 2010 - CUSEC would like to congratulate Chris Masingill on his recent appointment to Federal Co-Chair of the Delta Regional Authority (DRA). CUSEC has worked closely with DRA in hosting earthquake activities in the Delta Region. Currently, DRA is an active participate in the planning of the New Madrid Bicentennial (NMB)- the 200th Anniversary of the 1811/1812 great New Madrid earthquakes. We wish former co-chairman Pete Johnson well in his new endeavors, and look forward to working with Mr. Masingill on future earthquake initiatives.
New FEMA Publications Available on CD
May 2010 - The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to announce that three new CD-ROM compilations of FEMA earthquake resources are now available at no cost from the FEMA Publications Warehouse:
To view or download other National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) publications and products or to sign up for updates on earthquake risk mitigation publications, news, and events, visit Earthquake Publications and Tools at, http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquake/publications.shtm.
CUSEC Board Member Heading to FEMA
May 2010 - FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate applauded President Obama’s recent appointment of Andrew Velasquez III as FEMA Regional Administrator for Region V, which includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. “Regional Administrators are crucial to our ability to respond effectively to emergencies based on the needs of the communities we serve,” said Fugate. “Andrew Velasquez is not only an experienced emergency manager with deep roots in the region, but also a dedicated public servant. His knowledge and experience make him uniquely qualified to help lead our efforts there.”
Velasquez brings extensive experience in emergency management at the state and local level. He has served as Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and State Homeland Security Advisor since 2007, and prior to that was Executive Director of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications. Since joining IEMA, Director Velasquez has been an active and vocal participant on the CUSEC Board of Directors. We wish him the best of luck in his new role as Regional Administrator of FEMA Region V.
New Publication on Central United States Earthquakes
April 2010 - CUSEC is happy to announce that our newest publication "Central U.S. Earthquake Guide" is now available for download on the CUSEC website. The guide is intended to be used by students, teachers, homeowners, and anyone else interested in information about earthquakes in the central U.S. This informative guide has information on earthquakes in the central
U.S., earthquakes of 1811-1812, common earthquake terms, earthquake
safety tips, earthquake mitigation tips, pet/animal considerations
during a disaster, earthquake insurance, and more! This is an eight
panel fold out poster, which the second side can be hung on a wall or
in an office for viewing. The guide can be found in the publications section of our website or by clicking here - http://www.cusec.org/publications/safety/earthquakeguide_lowres.pdf (2.5MB Download)
April is Earthquake Awareness Month in Illinois
April 2010 - During the month of April, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency
(IEMA) is highlighting earthquake preparedness as part of its 12-Month
Preparedness Campaign. While most people are familiar with the
earthquake hazard along the West Coast of the U.S., many are not aware
that one of the most powerful earthquakes to ever occur in the
continental U.S. was centered near the town of New Madrid in
southeastern Missouri during the winter of 1811-1812.
Southern Illinois lies within two mid-continental seismic
zones. The New Madrid Seismic Zone stretches from Illinois to
Mississippi along the Central Mississippi River Valley, while the
Wabash Valley Seismic Zone is located between southeastern Illinois and
southwestern Indiana. While the greatest earthquake risks lie in these
areas, earthquakes have occurred throughout Illinois.
EERI to Host Chile Earthquake Webcast
March 2010 - EERI's Learning from Earthquakes Program is organizing a series of
briefings on Haiti and Chile in various locations, primarily as
webinars and webcasts. The first in this series is being organized and sponsored by EERI, PEER and GEER and will be held:
Speakers to include: Professor Jack Moehle, former PEER Director &
EERI Reconnaissance Team Leader, Bill Holmes of Rutherford &
Chekene and Mark Yashinsky of Caltrans, both EERI team members and Jon
Bray of UC Berkeley and Keith Kelson of Fugro William Lettis &
Associates, both members of the GEER team. This first briefing
about the Chile Earthquake on Feb 27, 2010 and its many subsequent
aftershocks will provide an overview of the findings of the
reconnaissance teams. It will be followed by a series of other
briefings that are arranged on specific topics that warrant additional
detail and discussion.
EERI Sends Investigation Team to Chile
March 2010 - A large team
of EERI members and colleagues will be traveling to Chile next week
to document the effects of the massive 8.8 earthquake that struck that country
on February 27th. Under the leadership of Professor Jack Moehle of UC Berkeley,
EERI is sending this team to bring back lessons for practice and academia in
both the U.S. and
Chile. Joining Moehle in providing
leadership for the overall reconnaissance effort are EERI member Professor
Rafael Riddell of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and Professor
Ruben Boroschek of the University of Chile. The team is organized under the
umbrella of EERI's Learning from Earthquakes (LFE) Program, which is supported
by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Many partnering organizations are
providing travel support for the LFE team members. The team will regularly post
field observations and photographs on EERI's Chile Clearinghouse site: http://www.eqclearinghouse.org/20100227-chile/
FEMA E-74 Available Online
March 2010 - FEMA 74 explains the sources of earthquake damage that can occur in
nonstructural components and provides information on effective methods
for reducing risk associated with nonstructural earthquake damage. It
is intended for use by a non-engineer audience that includes building
owners, facility managers, maintenance personnel, store or office
managers, corporate or agency department heads, and homeowners. The
reference material contained within the third edition of FEMA 74 is now
approaching 20 years old. A considerable amount of new information now
exists as a result of ongoing National Earthquake Hazard Reduction
Program (NEHRP) activities, local and state government programs,
private sector initiatives, and academic work focused on reducing the
potential for nonstructural earthquake damage.
This fourth edition of the FEMA 74 document updates both the content
and the format of the report. The document has been redesigned for use
on the internet, and is known as "FEMA E-74". Currently, the report contains fifty examples,
complete with photos of actual damage and details illustrating correct
mitigation measures. The new format makes it simple to browse and to
print out the relevant details. To view FEMA E-74 online, visit - http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquake/fema74/preface.shtm
New Haiti Earthquake Report Available
March 2010 - The
Geo-engineering Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association, with funding
from NSF, today released a summary report from their on-the-ground investigation
following the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Researchers from numerous
organizations worked collaboratively as a GEER team to perform a reconnaissance
of the geological, seismological, and geotechnical aspects of the earthquake
effects. The GEER team included many EERI members and the team was led by
Professor Ellen Rathje, a member of the EERI Board of Directors. The results are
summarized in a report recently published on the GEER web site
at - http://www.geerassociation.org/GEER_Post%20EQ%20Reports/Haiti_2010/Cover_Haiti10.html
February is Earthquake Awareness Month in the Central U.S. February 2010 - This February marks another year in which at least five CUSEC Member States will be holding earthquake awareness activities. Activities include -
Arkansas - Conferences, Trainings, News Releases, Proclamations, and more;
Kentucky - Proclamations, Drills, News Releases, School Outreach Programs, and more;
Mississippi - Proclamations, Public Outreach, and more;
Missouri - School Outreach, Town Hall Meetings, Business Outreach Programs, and more;
Tennessee - Proclamations, Trainings, Media Events, and more;
Missouri and Kentucky will hold earthquake awareness events during the entire month of February, while Mississppi and Arkansas, and Tennessee will hold events during the first and second weeks of February, respectively. Additionally, Illinois will hold earthquake awareness activities in April 2010.
New Report on Potential NMSZ Earthquake Impacts Available January 2010 - A new report from the Mid-America Earthquake Center is now available in print and online. This report contains earthquake impact assessments for the CUSEC Member States due to earthquakes caused by the New Madrid Seismic Zone. It reports Phase II work from a major New Madrid Earthquakes Catastrophic Event Planning project funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The report gives damage estimates to the built environment, projected impacts on transportation and utility networks as well as possible social and economic consequences. It supersedes the report, “Impact of Earthquakes on the Central USA,” published in 2008. The analysis employs the best available and most reliable hazard and inventory data that has ever been assembled for the CUSEC Member States.
The work was undertaken by the MAE Center at the University of Illinois in partnership with the Center for Technology, Security and Policy at Virginia Tech University and the Institute for Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management at the George Washington University, with contributions from the Association of CUSEC State Geologists, US Army Corps of Engineers, IEM, FEMA, U.S. Geological Survey, and CUSEC. Bound paper and CD copies are available from Nasiba Alrawi, IT Coordinator, email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Haiti Earthquake Serves as Reminder for the Central U.S. January 2010 - According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the island of Haiti was hit with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake at 3:53p.m.CST on Tuesday, January 12, 2010— the strongest earthquake to strike the island in more than 200 years. As the extent of devastation and casualties becomes clearer, an international disaster relief effort is underway to assist an estimated three million people in need of emergency aid. This catastrophic event should serve as a reminder to central U.S. residents that we also have our own earthquake hazard to address, and that individual and community preparedness is key in mitigating losses of life and property.
Knowing that at any moment a major earthquake can strike the central U.S., local, state and federal governments are taking steps to ensure a unified approach to response and recovery following a major seismic event in the region. Initiated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) Catastrophic Planning Initiative is a project to help increase national readiness for a catastrophic earthquake in the NMSZ. This initiative includes participation from local, state and federal governments, academia, business, industry and volunteer organizations. Read more about preparing for earthquakes in the central U.S.
New USGS Report on Central U.S. Earthquakes Available January 2010 - On September 8-9, 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission co-sponsored a workshop on Mmax east of the Rocky Mountains. Mmax is the magnitude of the largest earthquake that is thought to be possible within a specified geographic area. Mmax is an important variable in seismic-hazard computations.
The minutes of the workshop are now available online as a 308-page USGS Open-File Report titled "Sizes of the Largest Possible Earthquakes in the Central and Eastern United States—Summary of a Workshop, September 8–9, 2008, Golden, Colorado". To download the report, please go to http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1263/. The first half of the report is text and the second half is the PowerPoint slides of the 15 invited speakers. A 30 MB PDF file contains both the text and the slides. In addition, a directory contains each speaker's slides as an individual downloadable PowerPoint file.
Before the workshop, a foundation document went to the invitees to provide a common basis for discussions. That document is the 44-page Open-File Report "Methods of Mmax Estimation East of the Rocky Mountains". It's available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1018/.
CUSEC Saddened by Loss of Close Friend & Colleague December 2009 - Dr. Norman C. Hester, 76, of Bloomington, Indiana passed away on Monday
December 7, 2009. Dr. Hester served for several years as the Technical
Director of the Association of CUSEC State Geologists. He was one of
the original founders of the Association and recognized early on the
need for a collaborative effort among the CUSEC Member State Geological
Surveys. As Technical Director, Dr. Hester was the face of the
Association, working to advise and bring together the States to address
common issues and cross boundary problems presented by the earthquake
hazard.
Dr. Hester also had a great sense of the importance of bringing
together the science and emergency management communities. In as much,
his work over the years with the State Geologists earned him an
Ex-Officio position on the CUSEC Board of Directors. Dr. Hester served
as a colleague, mentor, and friend to many people over the years. His
leadership, generosity, and sense of humor will be sorely missed by
everyone who knew him. Read more here...
CUSEC Board Member Receives State Legislative Award December 2009 - On December 3, 2009 Director Andrew Velasquez, III was selected by the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus to receive the Exemplary Leadership award for his leadership in serving as IEMA Director/State Homeland Security Advisor and for his role in managing the states response in multiple federally declared disasters in Illinois. State Senator Martin Sandoval and State Representative Toni Berrios presented the award with Governor Quinn in attendance. In addition to being IEMA Director, Velasquez is on the CUSEC Board of Directors. CUSEC wishes to congratulate Director Velasquez on this recognition.
EERI New Madrid Chapter to Hold Poster Contest
October 2009 - EERI's New Madrid Chapter (NMC) is organizing a poster competition for students.
The two levels of prizes are graduate and undergraduate, with first place awards
of $350 and $250, respectively. There will also be second place awards. All
students will present their posters in a professional forum at the competition
during Earthquake Awareness Week (EQAW -- late January or early February 2010)
in St. Louis, Missouri. Awardees will be acknowledged during EQAW activities and
will have earned an honor useful for their resumes and employment searches. If
the competition is held during the first week of February, students who wish to
attend the EERI Annual Meeting can submit posters without attending EQAW.
Application forms and competition rules are available from http://www.eeri.org/site/images/stories/news/2010poster-comp-app-rules.doc.
Individual or groups (maximum of three) are welcome to apply. The application
deadline is December 9, 2009. Applicants will be notified of decisions by
December 18. The exact date and location in the St. Louis area will accompany
the notices.
CUSEC and Indiana DHS Install GeoCache in New Harmony, Indiana
October 2009 - Recently, CUSEC and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) installed a geocache in New Harmony, Indiana. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Several factors make New Harmony a great location for the geocache. For instance, New Harmony is the southernmost county in Indiana, and is located within the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. In 2002, CUSEC worked closely with officials in New Harmony to have a seismic monitoring station installed. New Harmony is also home to one of the oldest geology labs in the United States.
The geocache installation was a partnership effort between CUSEC, IDHS, the Indiana Geological Survey, Posey County Emergency Management Agency, and the New Harmony Inn. The morning of the installation, CUSEC Executive Director Jim Wilkinson and IDHS Executive Director Joe Wainscott gave several media and TV interviews in Evansville, Indiana, to promote earthquake awareness and geocaching. Prior to installing the geocache, CUSEC and IDHS also held a press conference at the New Harmony Inn, where several members of the public and media were present. News stories of the installation and outreach events can be found by visiting WFIE TV 14 Evansville (video included) and the Evansville Courier Press.
This is CUSEC’s eighth geocache, as part of the “What’s Shaking?” series of educational geocaches. These caches contain earthquake and disaster safety takeaways for each visitor. Ultimately, CUSEC hopes to reach at least 500 new cache visitors per year through this effort. For more on geocaching, visit - www.geocaching.com
PBS to Air Special About New Madrid Earthquakes
September 2009 - On Tuesday, September 1, at 8:00 p.m. CDT, NOVA science NOW will air “Earthquakes in the Midwest.” In this special episode, experts will take us back to the three most powerful earthquakes to strike the American Midwest in order to explain how and why earthquakes occur in the heartland. Geologists will also uncover important geological patterns that can reveal the region’s potential for another series of earthquakes. For more information on the NOVA episode, visit - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/
New USGS Publication on New Madrid Seismic Zone August 2009 - The US Geological Survey has released a fact sheet entitled "Earthquake Hazard in the New Madrid Seismic Zone Remains a Concern". As part of a consensus-building process used to develop the national
seismic hazard maps, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) convened a
workshop of experts to evaluate the latest findings in
earthquake hazards in the Eastern United States. These experts
considered the GPS data from New Madrid available at that time that
also showed little to no ground movement at the surface. The experts
did not find the GPS data to be a convincing reason to lower the
assessment of earthquake hazard in the New Madrid region, especially in
light of the many other types of data that are used to construct the
hazard assessment, several of which are described in the fact sheet. The fact sheet is currently only available for download, but should be available in hard copy soon.
NEMA Releases Mitigation White Paper July 2009 - On July 9, 2009 The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) released a white paper on titled “Recommendations for an Effective National Mitigation Effort,” outlining the importance of mitigation efforts aimed at building disaster resiliency across the nation. The white paper is a result of months of collaborative work of many organizations, including CUSEC. “NEMA appreciates the efforts of FEMA and the other partner organizations involved in this white paper for their continued commitment to mitigation and their willingness to lend their time and expertise to this endeavor. We hope that as the message of the white paper is discussed and analyzed, attention is also focused on the enormous amount of work ahead as we continue to strengthen the mitigation component of emergency management,” said NEMA President Nancy Dragani. Dragani also serves as the Executive Director of Ohio’s State Emergency Management Agency. Ohio is one of CUSEC's Associate States. For more on the white paper, read the press release found at the NEMA website.
HAZUS-MH Update Available June 2009 - FEMA announced the availability of HAZUS-MH MR3 Patch 3 recently. The new patch allows for several enhancements and updates to the earthquake model, including new calculations for relocation losses and user supplied liquefaction maps. HAZUS-MH is FEMA's multi-hazard loss estimation software that is used for both mitigation and emergency response planning. More on the patch can be found by reading the release notes. The HAZUS home page can be found by clicking here.
CUSEC Welcomes New Associate State Member
April 2009 - CUSEC is pleased to announce that Kansas has been voted in as the tenth associate member state by the CUSEC Board of Directors. This addition comes at the request of Major General, Tod Bunting, State Director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KEM). In a letter to the CUSEC Board of Directors, Director Bunting stated that Kansas is actively planning with their neighboring state, Missouri—which faces the constant threat of a New Madrid seismic event—to be ready to provide various resources in the event of a damaging earthquake in the central US. These resources will include shipment of equipment, and the housing of disaster victims in congregate care shelters. Kansas has a long-time reputation for assisting other states across the country in times of disaster. In 2005, the state deployed Kansans to the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Prior to that, Kansas personnel were sent to New York post 9/11 to assist with donations management. Most recently—in 2008— KEM personnel went to Iowa to assist with flood recovery. Please join us in welcoming Kansas as the newest associate state member of the CUSEC organization.
Announcements from the US Geological Survey
March 2009 -The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced this month that it will award up to $7
million in grants and cooperative agreements for earthquake research in
2010. Interested researchers can apply online at GRANTS.GOV under the funding opportunity number 10HQPA0001. Applications are due May 13, 2009. The USGS awards approximately 90 research grants annually to
universities, state geological surveys and private institutions. Previous grants include cataloging earthquakes to better prepare emergency responders, the public and the media about
earthquakes; providing seismic hazard estimates so communities and
critical institutions can engineer their buildings and roads to be
structurally sound; and providing data on ground shaking to help
minimize damage.
Also from the USGS in March, is a new circular discussing the landslide hazard. The circular is entitled "The Landslide Handbook - A Guide to Understanding Landslides". This handbook is intended to be a resource for people affected by
landslides to acquire further knowledge, especially about the
conditions that are unique to their neighborhoods and communities. The handbook can be downloaded at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1325/
New FEMA Director Announced
March 2009 — President Barack Obama on Wednesday tapped Florida emergency manager Craig Fugate to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Prior to the nomination, Fugate has been the Florida Division of Emergency Management Director since 2001. Fugate's department was held up as a national model after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He said then that the state had been preparing extensively for the threat of terrorism since the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and had done exercises for several possibilities, including cruise missile attacks. Obama's decision to name Fugate drew praise from Florida lawmakers and the International Association of Emergency Managers, which represents local emergency managers around the country. Adapted from the Associated Press
Earthquake Awareness Week Campaigns
January 2009 - Each year in late January and in February, several CUSEC States
participate in joint efforts to raise the level of earthquake awareness
in the central United States. Activities include things such as Press
Conferences, Governor's Proclamations, Town Hall Meetings, Exhibits,
Earthquake related training, and much more. In 2009, States holding
Earthquake Awareness Activities include Arkansas, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. For information on what each State is doing, click here for a full schedule of events.
Arkansas set to Install Seismic Monitoring Stations
December 2008 - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has authorized the State to purchase six broadband seismic monitors that will detect and locate
earthquake activity throughout Arkansas. The Arkansas Geological Survey will place the monitors throughout the
state to improve measuring capabilities in areas between existing
stations around the New Madrid Seismic Zone in Northeast Arkansas and
those in Oklahoma. "Although Arkansans may not think about earthquakes often, our
proximity to the New Madrid zone makes them a realistic concern for our
State," Governor Beebe said. "Our emergency responders already train
and prepare for earthquakes. These seismic monitors will give us better
information about the small tremors we experience now and help us
prepare for stronger earthquakes that could impact Arkansas in the
future." The earthquake data collected by the new monitors will be shared with
researchers and the public on a regular basis. The Geological Survey
will also post updated maps of recent seismic activity online. Adapted from the Official News Release
Special Session at SSA on Mt. Carmel Earthquake
December
2008 - There will be a special session at the April 2009 Seismological
Society of America Meeting entitled "M5.2 Mt. Carmel, Illinois,
Earthquake, 18 April 2008". The 18 April 2008 M5.2 Mt. Carmel
earthquake is the most densely recorded moderate-sized earthquake to
date in the Eastern U.S. It is also the largest earthquake to strike
the central U.S. in 40 years. The main event and 35 aftershocks were
widely recorded by ANSS seismographs across the central U.S. offering
an opportunity to study earthquake ground motions having a variety of
site conditions including the thick soils of the Mississippi Embayment.
Based on USGS Did You Feel It reports the earthquake was widely felt up
to 500 km from the epicenter including the cities of Chicago, IL,
Indianapolis, IN, Lexington, KY, Atlanta, GA, Memphis, TN, and St.
Louis, MO. This session seeks contributions on source rupture models,
geodetic observations, fault plane characterization from aftershocks,
site response and basin effects, attenuation, and shaking effects to
the built environment and free-field related to this earthquake.
Information about the meeting and abstract submission can be found at the SSA Website: http://www.seismosoc.org/meetings/2009/specialsessions.php
New Report on Impact of Earthquakes in the
Central United States
November 2008 - The Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center at the University of
Illinois announces the release of its report entitled ‘Impact of Earthquakes on
the Central USA’. The report is the one of the products of the largest
earthquake consequence assessment project in United States history, the New Madrid Seismic Zone
Catastrophic Planning Project. The report contains earthquake impact
assessments for the eight CUSEC Member States, and lists damage and
other consequences to the built environment as well as social and economic
impacts. The earthquake scenarios used represent the New Madrid, the
Wabash Valley, and East Tennessee seismic zones. The analysis employs new
and more reliable hazard and inventory data that has not been used before.
NEHRP Strategic Plan Now Available Online October 2008 - The 2009-20013 Strategic Plan of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program is now available online at www.nehrp.gov. The plan represents more than two years of work and effort NEHRP and the strategic planning committee. Following the release of the draft Plan in April 2008, the NEHRP
Secretariat opened a 30-day public comment period, during which
organizations and individuals could download the draft Plan from the
NEHRP web site, review it, and then provide thoughts and comments on it. The
public comment period closed on May 9, 2008. By the end of the comment
period, NEHRP received 118 comments from 35 individuals and
organizations. Click here to download a copy of the Strategic Plan.
South Carolina Earthquake Guide Available September 2008 - The South Carolina Emergency Management Division
has released an eight page earthquake guide entitled "South Carolina
Earthquake Guide" recently. The guide has information on earthquakes
in South Carolina, historical earthquake information, and emergency
preparedness information for pet owners, among other topics. Click
here to download a copy of the guide (approx. 2MB file size).
CUSEC Launches new Website
September 2008 - We are pleased to announce the launch of the latest version of the CUSEC website. Our new site has been redesigned from the ground up to better serve our visitors. It has been organized in a way that will offer easy to find information on earthquakes in the central US, earthquake safety, current programs in the central U.S., CUSEC publications, and more. New Features include -
- Fully Searchable Site
- Updated Publications Library
- Easy to Navigate Menu System
- CSS Styling for better compliance across browsers
- Updated information & safety tips
- and Much, Much, More...
Please take a moment to look around the website and we welcome any feedback you may have.
September is National Preparedness Month September 2008 - According to Ready.gov, September is National Preparedness Month in the United States. Throughout the month, there are initiatives across the country that encourage citizens to be prepared for both earthquakes and other natural or manmade disasters. Ready.gov is supported by the United States Department of Homeland Security and encourages citizens to 1) Get a Kit 2) Make a Plan and 3) Be informed about different hazards that could impact you. More information on National Preparedenss Month can be found at - http://www.ready.gov
CUSEC Welcomes three new Corporate Sponsors in 2008 August 2008 - CUSEC is pleased to announce three new corporate sponsors in 2008. Worksafe Technologies and Ridg-U-Rak, Inc. both offer seismic mitigation products and services that reduce damages associated with earthquakes. The Murray State University - Center for Telecommunications Systems Management brings another higher education/academic liasion to CUSEC. Worksafe Technologies is based in California, and has received accolades for their innovative Iso-Base product in recent years. Ridg-U-Rak has recently released their Seismic System for Storage Racks and was recipient of the 2008 Award in Excellence from the National Earthquake Conference. We are pleased to announce their support of CUSEC and our mission of protecting lives and property from disasters. For information on becoming a CUSEC Corporate Sponsor, click here.
NEHRP Appoints Central U.S. Representative to Advisory Committee
August 2008 - Three new Board Members were appointed to the NEHRP Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR). One of the new members, Dr. James Beavers, represents the central United States perspective on the panel. CUSEC would like to extend congratulations to Dr. Beavers for his nomination to the panel. He has long been an advocate for increasing earthquake awareness in the central U.S. Read more about the panel here.
Dr. Beavers is a structural engineer who has specialized in natural and technological hazards during more than 35 years as a university professor, private consultant, corporate manager, author, and editor. He formerly served as deputy director of the Mid-America Earthquake Center, as vice president for MS Technology's Natural and Technological Hazards Services Division, as director of the Center for Natural Phenomena Engineering at Martin Marietta Energy Systems, and as chairman of the board of directors for the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC). Dr. Beavers has served on more than 80 national committees, authored or coauthored more than 200 papers, and participated in professional exchange programs with Russia, China, India, and Australia. In 2007, he received the Duke Lifeline Earthquake Engineering Award from ASCE.
Kentucky Names New Director
July 2008 - Gov. Steven L. Beshear today announced the appointment of John W. Heltzel of Lawrenceburg as Executive Director of Kentucky's Division of Emergency Management (KyEM). Heltzel will begin his new duties immediately, overseeing the daily operation of the state's emergency management agency. Most recently the president and managing partner of CyberDefenses, Inc., an Austin, Texas-based computer security firm, and a Brigadier General in the Kentucky Army National Guard, Heltzel was chief information officer for the Department of Military Affairs and Kentucky National Guard from 1984 to 2006. He also previously served in the Division of Emergency Management as one the agency's initial Staff Duty Officers where he directly assisted in development of the first duty officer handbook and establishment of internal standing operating procedures. Read the full press release here.
Illinois Seismic Safety Task Force Created
May 2008 - Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich recently announced the formation of the Illinois Seismic Safety Task Force (SSTF). The Task Force was created after the recent April 18, 2008 Mt. Carmel 5.2M earthquake that shook much of southern Illinois and was felt in as many as 18 states. The Task Force will work to enhance mitigation measures in Illinois so homeowners and businesses can be better protected from damaging earthquakes. Illinois joins Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee as states with seismic commissions in the CUSEC Member States. Read the Official Press Release Here...
NEHRP Strategic Plan Out for Public Review
April 2008 - The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Interagency Coordinating Committee - FEMA, NIST, NSF and USGS - has approved the public release of the draft updated NEHRP Strategic Plan, for public review and comment. The draft plan is now available on the NEHRP web site: http://www.nehrp.gov/plans/publiccomment.htm The NEHRP agencies invite you to review the plan and provide them with any comments you might have, no later than May 9, 2008. Following the closure of this public comment period, the NEHRP agencies will consider what edits might be appropriate for the plan prior to its adoption and complete the strategic planning process.
National Earthquake Conference Approaching
March 2008 - The 2008 National Earthquake Conference is quickly approaching. This conferenc is being held in Seattle, Washington on April 22-26, 2008. The conference is chaired by the four national earthquake and emergency consortia groups (NESEC, CUSEC, WSSPC, and CREW) funded by FEMA under the National Earthquake Program, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) and the Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council (EPICC) of British Columbia, Canada. These four consortia along with EERI and EPICC, united to organize a national conference, to address the urgent problem of earthquake risk reduction. The conference is funded and supported by DHS/FEMA and USGS. For more information on the conference, visit www.earthquakeconference.org.
Disaster Medicine 101
February 2008 - The Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is presenting a one-day class titled “Disaster Medicine 101: Post-Earthquake Public Health and Medical Issues in the New Madrid Seismic Zone.” It will be held April 10, 2008, in Sikeston, MO at the Clinton Building. The class is a one-day general overview of public health concepts related to the earthquake threat in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. It will be open to first responders, medical professionals, public health officials, emergency managers, and others concerned with public health issues following an earthquake. Class space is limited, so sign up today to ensure your spot!
New State Director Appointed in Alabama
Janaury 2008 - Alabama Governor Bob R. Riley appointed Brock Long as State Director of Alabama Emergency Management Agency in late January. Long comes to Alabama after working at the state and federal levels in hurricane planning and response. “Alabama is fortunate to be gaining someone with Brock’s level of experience, talent and energy,” said Governor Riley Long replaces acting Director John James who was appointed after Bruce Baughman retired after four and half years of service as State Director. James has served in local and state emergency management for nearly 20 years, and CUSEC wishes him well. As a Member State of CUSEC, Director Long will serve as a voting member of the CUSEC Board of Directors. Visit http://ema.alabama.gov to read more about Albabma EMA.
