CUSEC – A partnership to mitigate disasters and save lives…

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 21. 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, “Although we have all been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in some way, the threat of an earthquake in looms. Recent earthquakes, such as the August 2021 M7.2 quake in Haiti, remind us that this is the case. Citizens can learn how to protect themselves, their families, and businesses against earthquakes and other disasters by participating in preparedness and safety events such as Great ShakeOut Drills and National Preparedness Month.”

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 2020, more than 29 million people participated in ShakeOut drills nationwide.

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is being 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.
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Earthquake Insurance Summit — POSTPONED

COVID concerns nationwide and ongoing travel restrictions for many of the attendees interested in attending make it prudent for us to postpone the Central U.S. Earthquake Insurance Summit, scheduled for September 28-29, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Summit is temporarily postponed until spring of 2022. Stay tuned to the CUSEC website for updates.

Experts say that the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the largest active zone in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains, is at risk for a major earthquake. However, earthquake insurance coverage in the highest risk areas of the New Madrid seismic zone has dropped dramatically in recent years, widening the gap between the insured and the uninsured. This leaves states with a significant challenge as they look at planning for a successful recovery following an event in which the economic losses are expected to reach $300 billion.

To address this issue, several organizations have partnered together to organize the first ever Central U.S. Earthquake Insurance Summit. Scheduled scheduled for Spring 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Summit is being organized by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, FEMA Region VII, and CUSEC. The purpose of the Summit is to bring together the insurance industry, regulators, government officials and emergency management professionals to forge new ideas to begin “closing the gap.”

The Summit is open to anyone interested in earthquake insurance and earthquake resiliency issues. More information, including a detailed program agenda, hotel information, and registration, can be found at www.centralusquakesummit.org.

Read more
CUSEC to Host Facebook Live Event on March 12th
In partnership with our Member States, CUSEC is hosting a Facebook Live presentation and Q/A on March 12at 12:30PM CST. During the event, representatives from CUSEC, as well as geologists and emergency managers from Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, and Missouri, will inform viewers about earthquake hazards and potential risks, as well as what can be done ahead of time to be better prepared.

Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and interact with panelists, and learn where to find resources needed to better protect themselves and their families against earthquakes. Topics covered will include:
- Earthquake hazards in the central U.S.
- How to stay safe during an earthquake
- Ways you can protect your family and home
- Resources to help plan for earthquakes and other disasters
We encourage you to join in and participate in the livestream. RSVP and event details can be found at https://fb.me/e/25sj4QIps.

Also, if you haven’t already, we hope you’ll like our Facebook page at facebook.com/EQConsortium.
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 21. 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, “Although we have all been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in some way, the threat of an earthquake in looms. Recent earthquakes, such as the August 2021 M7.2 quake in Haiti, remind us that this is the case. Citizens can learn how to protect themselves, their families, and businesses against earthquakes and other disasters by participating in preparedness and safety events such as Great ShakeOut Drills and National Preparedness Month.”

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 2020, more than 29 million people participated in ShakeOut drills nationwide.

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is being 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
Earthquake Insurance Summit — POSTPONED

COVID concerns nationwide and ongoing travel restrictions for many of the attendees interested in attending make it prudent for us to postpone the Central U.S. Earthquake Insurance Summit, scheduled for September 28-29, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Summit is temporarily postponed until spring of 2022. Stay tuned to the CUSEC website for updates.

Experts say that the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the largest active zone in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains, is at risk for a major earthquake. However, earthquake insurance coverage in the highest risk areas of the New Madrid seismic zone has dropped dramatically in recent years, widening the gap between the insured and the uninsured. This leaves states with a significant challenge as they look at planning for a successful recovery following an event in which the economic losses are expected to reach $300 billion.

To address this issue, several organizations have partnered together to organize the first ever Central U.S. Earthquake Insurance Summit. Scheduled scheduled for Spring 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Summit is being organized by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, FEMA Region VII, and CUSEC. The purpose of the Summit is to bring together the insurance industry, regulators, government officials and emergency management professionals to forge new ideas to begin “closing the gap.”

The Summit is open to anyone interested in earthquake insurance and earthquake resiliency issues. More information, including a detailed program agenda, hotel information, and registration, can be found at www.centralusquakesummit.org.

Read more
CUSEC to Host Facebook Live Event on March 12th
In partnership with our Member States, CUSEC is hosting a Facebook Live presentation and Q/A on March 12at 12:30PM CST. During the event, representatives from CUSEC, as well as geologists and emergency managers from Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, and Missouri, will inform viewers about earthquake hazards and potential risks, as well as what can be done ahead of time to be better prepared.

Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and interact with panelists, and learn where to find resources needed to better protect themselves and their families against earthquakes. Topics covered will include:
- Earthquake hazards in the central U.S.
- How to stay safe during an earthquake
- Ways you can protect your family and home
- Resources to help plan for earthquakes and other disasters
We encourage you to join in and participate in the livestream. RSVP and event details can be found at https://fb.me/e/25sj4QIps.

Also, if you haven’t already, we hope you’ll like our Facebook page at facebook.com/EQConsortium.
Read more