FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Memphis, TN — This Thursday the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and several local, national, and international disaster experts, will host a free public forum, Building Resiliency in the Face of the Earthquake Risk, from 1:30p.m. to 4:30p.m. at the Michael D. Rose Theatre on the University of Memphis main campus. The forum coincides with the “Great ShakeOut”, a national earthquake drill where citizens in 43 states and territories will practice earthquake safety procedures at 10:17a.m. Thursday (see www.shakeout.org for more information).
The purpose of the forum is to help increase public awareness about possible impacts of earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). Participants will walk away with a better understanding of:
- Potential impacts earthquakes may have on their families, businesses, and livelihoods
- Lessons learned from recent earthquakes in Christ Church, New Zealand, which has a similar earthquake threat to Memphis
- Ways codes and community planning tools are being used to reduce future earthquake losses
Following a facilitated discussion and presentations on community resilience and earthquake recovery by international guests from New Zealand, sponsoring organizations will host informational booths on how participants can be better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters. Media are invited to attend and take footage of the forum and hold interviews with experts working in the fields of emergency management, earthquake hazards, and disaster preparedness.
WHEN: Thursday, October 17, 2013 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Michael D. Rose Theatre Lecture Hall at the University of Memphis (free parking available at the Zach Curlin parking garage)
WHO: Dr. Kelvin Berryman, Director of Natural Hazards, GNS Science, New Zealand
Gary Patterson, Director of Education and Outreach, CERI
Dr. David Johnston, Social Scientist, GNS Science, Director of JCDR, Massey University
Honorable Mark H. Luttrell, Mayor of Shelby County
Jim Wilkinson, Executive Director, Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium
Roy Wright, Federal Emergency Management Agency
RSVP: RSVP is not required. For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Jim Wilkinson, Executive Director of CUSEC at (901) 544-3570.
This forum is being presented in partnership between CUSEC and the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI), the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH ®), FEMA, the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), the Shelby County Office of Preparedness Homeland Security/Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the West TN Structural Engineers Association (WTSEA).
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