Earthquake Training & Exercises
SEMA
has been working with several partners to mitigate earthquake disaster
losses through disaster exercises. For example, SEMA participated with
the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) in conducting a
significant earthquake exercise in 2001, actually deploying teams into
the simulated earthquake area.
In November 2002, SEMA’s Earthquake
Program Manager provided the opening presentation for the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division in an earthquake response and
recovery-planning seminar in Kansas City. The Northwestern Division
will use the information obtained during the seminar to update
earthquake plans and prepare for future exercises.
One such exercise
was the FEMA Region VII “Havoc in the Heartland” earthquake
exercise that was held in March 2003. Exercise participants included
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of
Transportation/Federal Highway Administration, the General Services
Administration, the U.S. Public Health Service, the U.S. Department of
Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of
Defense, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. SEMA’s
Earthquake Program thus continues to foster earthquake loss-reduction
activities that will support seismic safety for all Missouri’s
citizens.
SEMA
has proposed that FEMA, other US Departments, the Central US
Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) and the CUSEC member states concurrently
conduct a major region-wide earthquake exercise in 2007 or 2008. The
purpose of the exercise is to improve earthquake mitigation,
preparedness, response and recovery capabilities.
