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FEMA Releases the “2011 FEMA Central States Disaster and Earthquake Preparedness Survey Report”

Author:

Today, we released the “2011 FEMA Central States Disaster and Earthquake Preparedness Survey Report.” The Report provides actionable recommendations for increasing preparedness, including insight into the use of hazard-specific outreach, messaging, education, and training; the linkage between awareness of outreach and preparedness behaviors; and the value of using multiple channels for outreach and other activities.

Americans are frequently reminded to prepare for disasters—from earthquakes, to tropical storms and hurricanes, to wildfires, and to tornadoes, as a few examples.

The goal of the Central States Disaster and Earthquake Preparedness Survey was to gauge residents’ preparedness for an earthquake following six months of outreach and events by The Central United States Earthquake Consortium (in partnership with FEMA) including the 2011 National Level Exercise, which used a catastrophic earthquake as the scenario, and the April 2011 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut^TM. The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is the largest earthquake preparedness drill in central U.S. history, providing an annual opportunity to practice how to be safer during earthquakes and to get prepared at work, school, and home.

We discovered that individuals exposed to communication and outreach before the ShakeOut had much higher awareness of the risks posed by earthquakes, and more knowledge of what to do in response to an earthquake and had taken steps to prepare for an earthquake and other hazards. We found that community connections, including outreach from community-based organizations and informal discussions among the public, are linked with earthquake preparedness behaviors.

The Report states that more than half of the survey respondents knew the following key earthquake response actions during shaking: get close to the ground, get under a large piece of furniture, hold onto something, and do not run outside if you are currently inside a building. However, more than three in five respondents incorrectly believed that they should get in a doorway, and more than two in five incorrectly believed they should run outside of a building.

The Report findings are informing new communication and outreach strategies. We are incorporating these findings into the National Campaign to build and sustain preparedness, by enhancing community-based outreach that focuses on local risks.

For more information and to download the Report, visit www.fema.gov/earthquake. In addition to reading the report, please participate in your local ShakeOut^TM drill (visit http://www.shakeout.org/ to register).

Preparing for Earthquakes on the Anniversary of Last Year’s East Coast Earthquake

Author:

Flat Stanley and Flat Stella

Today is the anniversary of last year’s earthquake along the east coast – the biggest earthquake to hit the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains. To remember the importance of preparing for unexpected events, we visited the Washington Monument – it was damaged during the earthquake. Many of FEMA’s partners also visited the Washington Monument today, including the National Park Service, Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium, U.S. Geological Survey, and representatives from the Virginia and D.C. governments.

We met with Tim Manning, one of the big bosses at FEMA. He talks about our visit to the Washington Monument and the importance of preparing for earthquakes and other emergencies.

We learned how to register for the Great Southeast Shakeout which will occur on October 18. The Shakeout is an earthquake drill where schools and businesses practice “drop, cover, and hold on” – the appropriate steps to take if you feel the ground shaking. We encourage you to register and participate with us!

fema flat stanley and stella at washington monument

While we cannot always predict when a disaster will happen, we can at least prepare by practicing what actions to take. We encourage you to visit Ready.gov/earthquakes to learn even more tips about preparing for earthquakes.

The Great Utah ShakeOut: a Great Opportunity for Private Sector

Posted by: Angela Petersen, Vice President, Business Continuity for Zions Bank

Editor’s Note: The views expressed by Angela Peterson do not necessarily represent the official views of the United States, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA does not endorse any non-government organizations, entities, or services.

On April 17, 2012, the State of Utah participated in the Great Utah ShakeOut the largest simulated earthquake exercise in the state’s history. Several members of my organization were fortunate enough to be asked to participate in the state simulation cell during the exercise. What a great opportunity to strengthen both our knowledge of the operation of the state during a crisis, as well as our organizational response plans and how we can better respond during an event.

Through the actual experience, and being able to spend time talking with our FEMA regional representatives about their past response to significant events, I am able to take away practical knowledge that will be used to benefit my organization.

One of the most important messages I will take back deals with communications. As a financial institution, we have always known that our customers are the most important focus of our recovery. The exercise reinforced the importance of pre-planning for communications following a significant event.

Making sure we deliver messaging through every aspect of the business will make all the difference in our ability to respond effectively. This means we need to talk more about what we would expect to hear from our clients and employees, and prepare ourselves with the methodology to effectively disburse messages and ensure they are communicated as uniformly as possible.

An organization’s understanding that it is not “business as usual” when it comes to customer service is vitally important. The staff we have on hand today to handle customer and media-based inquiries will need to become more robust following an event. The stresses of not only the situation but also the repeated requests for information quickly take a toll on people.

The exercise reinforced my belief in the need to pre-plan a communications staff and train for these types of situations. It is one of the greatest steps an organization can take to reduce their reputational risks following an event.

Overall, I believe each member of the business community owes it to their employees, as well as their customers to build a plan that not only encompasses the business function, but the human element of business as well. Our being prepared to sustain ourselves and our respective businesses while the state focuses on placing critical response measures in place is vitally important. Basically, we need to do our part to be prepared now.

I congratulate the State of Utah for a well-run exercise, and thank its leaders for their encouragement of private sector business and community involvement in the exercise, and for the ever-present message of preparedness.

A Year of Reflection: One Year Anniversary of Earthquake in Christchurch

Author:

Tim Manning

One year ago, a deadly earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand, killing over a hundred people. I was in Christchurch when the earthquake struck and I can still recall that day vividly. On Wednesday, Feb. 22, I will participate at a commemoration ceremony at the New Zealand Embassy here in Washington D.C. In addition, I would like to share some of what I experienced by linking to a post of my personal accounts from the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand’s blog. An excerpt from the blog, as well as the link to the full text is provided below.

At the airport I went to the airline desks, only to find it was still an hour before the flight would open. The couple behind me said hello.

As we talked for a moment, a very low audible rumble began. The shaking started soon after … building and getting louder as ceiling tiles fell, pipes burst, and glass walls shattered.

The crowd reaction ranged from inaction to calm dropping and covering, to yelling and running for the doors. The majority took the best cover they could and waited until the shaking stopped. The fire alarm began immediately. The airport began rapidly emptying out onto the side walk and parking lots.

The magnitude of the damage was not obvious yet. As we filed out of the airport, I knew that if the phone system was still working, it likely wouldn’t be for long, so I quickly called my wife to let know what happened and that I was OK, when the first large aftershock struck (an event recorded on her voice mail, much to her dismay).

The crowd moved quickly away from the swaying control tower, further from the airport building. As we checked on each other to make sure everyone was OK, the first reports from downtown started coming in. Widespread devastation, and unlike the September quake, this one struck at lunch on a workday with a central business district full of people.

To read the full post, visit the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand’s blog.

That day served as a stark reminder that no matter where we live, it’s important to be prepared for any type of emergency -- even one that may be uncommon in your area. Visit www.ready.gov for tips on how you can get prepared today.

Drop, Cover and Hold on: The Great ShakeOut in Alabama

Author:

Greig Powers

Three days into the new Joint Field Office for Alabama tornado recovery, Federal Coordinating Officer Joe Girot and his team joined the largest earthquake drill in Region IV’s history -- the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. Safety officers Hal Pashon and Rob Dahlman briefed the team in advance on what to expect. Hal explained that when the alarm sounded, all staff should be ready to drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture, and hold on to something to gain stability.

Pelham, Ala., Feb. 7, 2012 -- Hal Pashon, FEMA Safety Officer, leads the

Pelham, Ala., Feb. 7, 2012 -- Hal Pashon, FEMA Safety Officer, leads the "ShakeOut" in the Joint Field Office in Pelham, Alabama. During the statewide earthquake drill, employees drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on until the shaking stops. The drill aims to promote earthquake preparedness.

Approximately 70 people were in the JFO during the drill and all participated in what Pashon called, “a great learning experience.” For some, especially employees living in Alabama and local hires, it was their first experience with an earthquake exercise. According to the National Geological Survey, living far from the West Coast of the United States doesn’t ensure safety from earthquakes. While the West Coast does have a high probability of earthquakes, a potentially hazardous area also fans out from the “New Madrid” fault line that straddles Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. Repercussions from earthquakes along this fault line could affect more than 15 million people in eight states – Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

Pelham, Ala., Feb. 7, 2012 -- Abraham Mercado, IT specialist, participates in the

Pelham, Ala., Feb. 7, 2012 -- Abraham Mercado, IT specialist, participates in the "ShakeOut" earthquake drill in the Joint Field Office in Pelham, Ala. During the drill, employees dropped to the ground, took cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and held on to a heavy object for stability. The drill aims to promote earthquake preparedness.

Following the drill, Hal distributed additional information on how one should respond to a quake under different circumstances, including being indoors vs. outdoors, in a downtown area, in a moving vehicle and trapped under debris.

Joe said he was pleased with the response from his team:

As emergency responders, we aren’t able to help other people after a disaster if we don’t know how to take care of ourselves during one. This exercise was a great learning opportunity for us and gave us better perspective on the real-life preparation and vigilance required to survive an earthquake.

Practice Makes Perfect: ShakeOut Today

Author:

Michael Widomski

Today at 10:15 a.m. CST (11:15 a.m. EST) -- millions of people across the U.S. will participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. The drill is the largest earthquake preparedness event in central U.S. history. And don’t worry, even if you don’t live in the central U.S. you can still participate. Earthquakes can strike without warning, and you will only have seconds to react - so it’s important that everyone participates in the drill to ensure you know what to do should an earthquake strike.

It only takes a couple of minutes to participate in the drill and practice these three simple steps:

DROP to the ground

Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops

So, this morning, wherever you are, take a few minutes to practice these simple steps to make sure you’re prepared for an earthquake. Remember, everyone plays a critical role in helping our nation become prepared. While we don’t know when or where the next earthquake will strike, preparing for them now will help our entire country during an emergency.

A Challenge to All Businesses: ShakeOut on Tuesday

Author:

Dan Stoneking

I work with people from global corporations based in Chicago, to sole proprietorships based out of a home office. One thing they both have in common? Both of them -- and anyone in between -- can participate in The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill this Tuesday, February 7.

For a small investment of your time, you could learn, teach, and exercise life saving actions to take during an earthquake:

DROP to the ground

Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops

The drill is organized and coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Geological Survey, and dozens of other partners. More than two million participants have registered to participate at government offices, businesses, schools, place of worship, libraries, and other community based organizations.

I am an earthquake survivor, I was in Haiti for a major “aftershock.” Having survived an earthquake, I can attest to the idea that practicing an earthquake drill is extremely critical in surviving these disasters. I have done this drill. I have trained. And I am still here.

Last year I conducted a surprise ShakeOut drill with my team, even though we “never” have earthquakes in the DC area. It was the first time that one member of the team learned about earthquake safety procedures. Five months later she was teleworking at home when an earthquake shook Virginia and was felt by many states to the north and south. She immediately responded with the correct actions; she dropped, covered, and held on. She is a survivor too. We are drilling again this Tuesday morning, and I ask you to join us by conducting your own drill.

Here’s a video from the Administrator encouraging citizens to participate in the Great Central ShakeOut:

Participation in the drill can take as little time as a couple minutes, or can be more involved and include exercising your earthquake preparedness to your emergency preparedness plan.

So if you haven’t done so already, register and join us now and explore the information and resources to make your drill great and improve your earthquake and overall preparedness. Also checkout FEMA’s Quakesmart Mitigation Toolkit for Businesses and visit Ready Business for important information on preparedness planning for your business.

Earthquake Preparedness & the Great ShakeOut on February 7

Author:

Tim Manning

You only have seconds to react to an earthquake, so it’s important to know what to do when the ground starts shaking – and I know this all too well. In 2011, I was in Christchurch, New Zealand to discuss emergency management issues when the deadly quake struck. I found myself putting to use years of knowledge and tips we at FEMA use to inform the public on preparing for emergencies.

I saw the devastation firsthand, and it’s a stark reminder that no matter where we live – earthquakes strike without any warning. Another recent example is last August, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Louisa County in Virginia; shaking was felt as far south as Georgia and as far north as Quebec, Canada. Because earthquakes are more common on the west coast, the “East Coast Quake” took most of us by surprise.

While we can’t prevent earthquakes or other disasters, we can take important steps to prepare for them, and I want to encourage everyone to join more than one million individuals, schools, businesses, governments, and other organizations across the central United States who will participate in the second annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut on February 7, at 10:15 a.m. CDT. It is the largest earthquake preparedness event in central U.S. history.

It only takes a couple of minutes to participate in the drill and practice these three simple steps:

• DROP to the ground
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops

If you’re on Twitter you can join the conversation by using this hashtag: #shakeout

Everyone plays a critical role in helping our nation become well-prepared. While we don’t know where or when the next earthquake will strike, preparing for them will help our entire country become more resilient in the face of a disaster. What we do now to prepare before a big earthquake will help us bounce back after an earthquake occurs.

So if you haven’t already, join us and register for the ShakeOut and visit Ready.gov/earthquake for important earthquake preparedness tips that can help protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of an earthquake. You can also download the FEMA smartphone app (for Android and Apple devices) to access preparedness tips and an interactive emergency supply kit on your phone.

Slogans, Earthquake Safety & the Central U.S. ShakeOut

Author:

Craig Fugate

"Duck and Cover." "Stop, Drop and Roll." "Shake, rattle and roll." There are a lot of slogans and catchphrases out there to help get our message across to the public about how to react in an emergency (OK, the last one I mentioned isn't really an emergency management one). I wanted to share an upcoming opportunity to focus on the catchphrase for what to do during an earthquake: "Drop. Cover. Hold on." Four weeks from today, on February 7 at 10:15 am central, millions of Americans will practice those very steps by participating in the annual Central U.S. ShakeOut.

This last year was an important reminder to all of us that earthquakes, like other disasters, can strike anytime, anywhere – not just on the West Coast. They come with little to no warning and their effects, such as shaking, can often be felt hundreds of miles and many states away from their epicenters. In August, when the 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Louisa County in Virginia, shaking was felt as far south as Georgia and as far north as Quebec, Canada.

Last year, over 3 million people participated in the first-ever central U.S. shakeout drill, choosing to practice earthquake safety at their schools, homes, workplaces and countless other organizations. This year, we're looking for parents, businesses and institutions to take the lead and make earthquake preparedness even more front and center.

To date over one million people have registered for the ShakeOut across the central U.S. It’s a good start – but we know we can get more people and communities involved. So if you haven’t already – do your part. Sign up to shakeout and then check out Ready.gov/earthquakes to learn how you can better prepare your home, workplace or school for an earthquake.

And remember – even if you don’t live in the central U.S., the Shakeout isn’t about only practicing earthquake safety on one day, once a year. Take a few minutes each month to check your home, office or school to make sure these environments are as safe as possible if an earthquake would strike. And if you're a parent or educator, review earthquake safety on a regular basis if your children, reminding them of the three simple steps of drop, cover and hold on.

Other Links
For businesses, schools and organizations, check out resources for hosting a ShakeOut event.

Follow the Central U.S. ShakeOut on Twitter and Facebook.

Japan’s Long Term Recovery Path

Author:

William Carwile, III

2011 was full of natural disasters and emergencies – both large and small – but none rivaled the tragic scale of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last March. Just before the start of the New Year, I had the opportunity to again visit Japan, seeing the most impacted regions of the Iwate Prefecture and meeting with government officials from around the world to discuss the rebuilding and recovery challenges that are ongoing.

As part of the two-day conference, (organized by the Japanese Cabinet Office, Japan International Cooperation Agency, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and Asian Disaster Reduction Center) and my visit to the hardest-hit areas of the country, it was apparent the temporary housing mission is significant. I visited Kamaishi City where temporary housing had to be constructed quickly to house 516 residents. Because of the large amount of elderly, the pre-fabricated housing units were configured facing each other, with common roofing, to create a sense of community and to prevent isolation of senior residents. The temporary housing area also includes a support center to assist with nursing care insurance application and health consultations. Within the temporary housing area, the city also has included a grocery store and other shops, a nursing center and a child care center.

Since I last visited Japan in May, the amount of debris has been substantially reduced, which has helped as rebuilding efforts continue. The sheer volume of debris as a result of the earthquake and tsunami is hard to fathom – there were an estimated 275,000 vehicles and a large amount of hazardous materials. Many disaster response officials estimated long-term recovery in Japan may take as long as 8-10 years due to the magnitude of the destruction.

For us at FEMA, events like the deadly earthquake and tsunami to hit Japan are reminders of the importance to continually plan and prepare for potentially catastrophic events. While we cannot predict when or where the next emergency will occur, we can take steps within our nation, states, communities, neighborhoods and households to be better prepared should disaster strike. During my presentation at the conference, I talked about the recent disasters to affect the United States, FEMA’s whole community approach to planning, the Presidential Policy Directive 8 (which talks about nationwide disaster planning), and the National Disaster Recovery Framework.

In sharing expertise with other nations and learning from disasters that have affected them, it provides FEMA an opportunity to redouble our efforts to help Americans better prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards.

For more about how the United States is supporting recovery in Japan, visit the U.S. embassy website.