[CEUS-earthquake-hazards] Experts to Host Public Forum about Earthquakes and Community Resiliency in Memphis, TN

[Brian Blake]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Experts to Host Public Forum about Earthquakes and Community Resiliency

Memphis, TN - 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 5:30p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at the
Michael D. Rose Theatre on the University of Memphis main campus.  The
purpose of this event is to help increase public understanding of
potential impacts that citizens, businesses, and communities in the
region may face from earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).


Professionals with expertise in earthquake hazards, disaster
preparedness, building design, and emergency management will present
information on building community resiliency to limit injuries, deaths,
and economic losses from earthquakes.  Participants will also learn
about short- and long-term earthquake recovery challenges from experts
in New Zealand, where a devastating earthquake sequence struck
Christchurch in 2010 and 2011.  Featured speakers at this forum will
include:

*	Dr. Kelvin Berryman - Director of Natural Hazards, GNS Science,
New Zealand - will share information about the 2010-2011 Christchurch,
NZ earthquakes, and similarities between the Memphis and New Zealand
earthquake risks
*	Gary Patterson - Director of Education and Outreach, Center for
Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) - will highlight scientific
understanding of earthquake hazards in the central U.S.
*	Dr. David Johnston - Social Scientist, GNS Science and Director
of the Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Massey University - will
share information pertaining to earthquake response and recovery
following the 2010-2011 Christchurch, NZ earthquakes, emphasizing
lessons learned for the central U.S.  

There will also be a facilitated discussion with a panel of experts to
address residential and commercial seismic building code issues.
Moderators and panelists, along with keynote speakers, will be on-hand
to answer questions from the media and participants throughout the
afternoon.  Partnering organizations will also have informational booths
on how participants can become better prepared for earthquakes and other
disasters.  

Additionally, the forum is a linked event to the Great ShakeOut
Earthquake Drill, (www.shakeout.org/centralus) which takes place in
Tennessee and 40 other states and territories at 10:17 a.m. earlier in
the day.  More than 12 million people are expected to participate in
ShakeOut drills nationwide, including drills at the University of
Memphis and Shelby County Schools.  

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 (r)), 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).  

Anyone interested in learning more about earthquake related issues is
invited to participate in this event.  For more information, contact Jim
Wilkinson, Executive Director of CUSEC, at (901) 544-3570. 

###

________________________________

Brian Blake

Program Coordinator

Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium

(901) 544-3570

Online:  www.cusec.org <http://www.cusec.org/> 

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/eqconsortium 



  <http://www.shakeout.org/> 

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