CUSEC – A partnership to mitigate disasters and save lives…

February is Earthquake Awareness Month

As earthquakes continue to occur on a daily basis in the central U.S.—with nearly 2,000 small tremors per year—CUSEC and emergency management officials in our Member States remind citizens and communities about the earthquake risk by designating February as Earthquake Awareness Month. During the month of February, and into March, CUSEC and our states will be involved with several events (listed below, as they become available) intended to educate the public, private sector, first responders, and government officials.

February 8 – Earthquake Insurance Webinar w/CREW
February 16 – CUSEC Board of Directors Meeting
February 24 – Missouri SAVE Coalition Training
March 16 – Missouri Earthquake Summit

Also, February 7 is the anniversary of the last of the earthquakes that struck the central U.S. in the winter of 1811-12. According to the US Geological Survey:

This sequence of three very large earthquakes is usually referred to as the New Madrid earthquakes, after the Missouri town that was the largest settlement on the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and Natchez, Mississippi. On the basis of the large area of damage (600,000 square kilometers), the widespread area of perceptibility (5,000,000 square kilometers), and the complex physiographic changes that occurred, the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 rank as some of the largest in the United States since its settlement by Europeans.

While scientists say that there is a 7-10% probability of a re-occurrence of the 1811-12 earthquakes within any 50-year window, they also estimate that there is a 25-40% probability of a M6.0 or greater earthquake occurring in the central U.S. within the same period of time. About 200 earthquakes occur in the central U.S. every year-many of which go unnoticed. And while the primary focus remains on the NMSZ , it is not the only area of concern. Earthquakes are also occurring along the Wabash Valley and East Tennessee Seismic Zones and in Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas.

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CUSEC & CREW to Host Insurance Webinar

In this webinar, a panel of experts in the fields of insurance and disaster insurance explores the issues of affordability and equitable access to earthquake insurance, discussing both the difficulties of, and the potential options for, widening the use of earthquake insurance to improve the financial resilience of households and communities.

This 2-hour webinar will be hosted by CREW and CUSEC, with funding from the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. For more information, and to register, visit the webinar website at crew.org/earthquake-insurance-webinars

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ShakeOut Earthquake Drill to take place in October
Following FEMA’s “National Preparedness Month” in September, individuals and communities throughout the Nation are encouraged to participate in the annual Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. Held annually on the third Thursday of October, the ShakeOut International Day of Action is set for Thursday, October 20*. During the self-led drill, millions of people practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”. For most people, in most situations, the recommended earthquake safety action is to:
- DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees;
- COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand, as you crawl for shelter under a nearby table or desk;
- HOLD ON to your shelter with one hand until shaking stops (remain on your knees and covering your head and neck with your other arm and hand).
According to CUSEC Executive Director Jim Wilkinson, “Preparedness and safety events such as Great ShakeOut Drills and National Preparedness Month provide citizens a great opportunity to learn how to protect themselves, their families, and businesses against earthquakes and other disasters.”

The ShakeOut is free and open to the public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups. To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate www.shakeout.org. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

In 2021 more than 15 million people participated in ShakeOut drills nationwide, with 30 million participants worldwide.

* Although millions will participate on October 20, you are welcome to participate any day of the year that works best for you. Your participation date can be noted on your ShakeOut registration form.

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is coordinated by CUSEC and our Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and dozens of other partners. ShakeOut is coordinated globally by the Southern California Earthquake Center in Los Angeles, California.
Read more

February is Earthquake Awareness Month

As earthquakes continue to occur on a daily basis in the central U.S.—with nearly 2,000 small tremors per year—CUSEC and emergency management officials in our Member States remind citizens and communities about the earthquake risk by designating February as Earthquake Awareness Month. During the month of February, and into March, CUSEC and our states will be involved with several events (listed below, as they become available) intended to educate the public, private sector, first responders, and government officials.

February 8 – Earthquake Insurance Webinar w/CREW
February 16 – CUSEC Board of Directors Meeting
February 24 – Missouri SAVE Coalition Training
March 16 – Missouri Earthquake Summit

Also, February 7 is the anniversary of the last of the earthquakes that struck the central U.S. in the winter of 1811-12. According to the US Geological Survey:

This sequence of three very large earthquakes is usually referred to as the New Madrid earthquakes, after the Missouri town that was the largest settlement on the Mississippi River between St. Louis, Missouri and Natchez, Mississippi. On the basis of the large area of damage (600,000 square kilometers), the widespread area of perceptibility (5,000,000 square kilometers), and the complex physiographic changes that occurred, the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 rank as some of the largest in the United States since its settlement by Europeans.

While scientists say that there is a 7-10% probability of a re-occurrence of the 1811-12 earthquakes within any 50-year window, they also estimate that there is a 25-40% probability of a M6.0 or greater earthquake occurring in the central U.S. within the same period of time. About 200 earthquakes occur in the central U.S. every year-many of which go unnoticed. And while the primary focus remains on the NMSZ , it is not the only area of concern. Earthquakes are also occurring along the Wabash Valley and East Tennessee Seismic Zones and in Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas.

Read more
CUSEC & CREW to Host Insurance Webinar

In this webinar, a panel of experts in the fields of insurance and disaster insurance explores the issues of affordability and equitable access to earthquake insurance, discussing both the difficulties of, and the potential options for, widening the use of earthquake insurance to improve the financial resilience of households and communities.

This 2-hour webinar will be hosted by CREW and CUSEC, with funding from the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. For more information, and to register, visit the webinar website at crew.org/earthquake-insurance-webinars

Read more
ShakeOut Earthquake Drill to take place in October
Following FEMA’s “National Preparedness Month” in September, individuals and communities throughout the Nation are encouraged to participate in the annual Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. Held annually on the third Thursday of October, the ShakeOut International Day of Action is set for Thursday, October 20*. During the self-led drill, millions of people practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”. For most people, in most situations, the recommended earthquake safety action is to:
- DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees;
- COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand, as you crawl for shelter under a nearby table or desk;
- HOLD ON to your shelter with one hand until shaking stops (remain on your knees and covering your head and neck with your other arm and hand).
According to CUSEC Executive Director Jim Wilkinson, “Preparedness and safety events such as Great ShakeOut Drills and National Preparedness Month provide citizens a great opportunity to learn how to protect themselves, their families, and businesses against earthquakes and other disasters.”

The ShakeOut is free and open to the public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups. To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate www.shakeout.org. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

In 2021 more than 15 million people participated in ShakeOut drills nationwide, with 30 million participants worldwide.

* Although millions will participate on October 20, you are welcome to participate any day of the year that works best for you. Your participation date can be noted on your ShakeOut registration form.

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is coordinated by CUSEC and our Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and dozens of other partners. ShakeOut is coordinated globally by the Southern California Earthquake Center in Los Angeles, California.
Read more