Regional Earthquake Exercise in St. Louis Oct. 16-17

October 16 - 17, 2015, Exercise at Jefferson Barracks National Guard Post

Event Location:
Jefferson Barracks National Guard Post
14 Hancock Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63125-4123 (Map)

Event Contact:
Jeff Briggs, Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, jeff.briggs@sema.dps.mo.gov, 573-526-9232 or 573-301-7752

No contact information available.

Summary:
Regional Earthquake Exercise to be Held in St. Louis Oct. 16-17 -- Jefferson Barracks to simulate response to massive earthquake damage in New Madrid Seismic Zone




Full Description:
Many buildings in eastern and southern Missouri, including the St. Louis area, would likely sustain major damage if a large earthquake struck the state. To prepare for this possibility, structural experts throughout the region will practice their response to a simulated massive earthquake in St. Louis Oct. 16-17.

The event, to be held at the Jefferson Barracks Post in south St. Louis, will be conducted by the Missouri Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation (SAVE) Coalition. The coalition is a group of volunteer engineers, architects and building inspectors that are trained to quickly determine which buildings are safe to use and which should be evacuated after a disaster. The Missouri National Guard will host the exercise.

“A major earthquake is the worst-case scenario for structural damage. This exercise will help us determine if we’re ready to handle it,” said Ben Ross, SAVE Coalition Board Chairman. “Our volunteers, along with visiting experts from surrounding states, will quickly deploy to determine whether buildings are safe to enter, or whether families can stay there. Unlike other disasters, an earthquake occurs without warning, so we’ve got to be ready in advance.”

Nearly 200 participants from Missouri and surrounding states will take part in the exercise. In addition to assessing buildings, participants will test new technology to report the results in real time, so building conditions can quickly be compiled and reported to elected officials.

Missouri’s SAVE Coalition includes more than 1,000 volunteers who are available to assist when a disaster such as a tornado or earthquake causes so much structural damage that local officials need help determining the safety of buildings. A structural inspection of the outside of the building results in posting of a green card meaning that the building is safe to enter, a yellow card meaning the building is safe to enter briefly but not to occupy, or a red card meaning the building is severely damaged and cannot be entered. The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency helps coordinate activities of the SAVE Coalition, whose members have assisted the state during five disasters, including the May 2011 Joplin tornado.

The New Madrid Seismic Zone, centered in southeast Missouri, produced some of the largest earthquakes ever in the continental U.S. from 1811 to 1812. It’s also the most active seismic zone east of the Rocky Mountains, with about 200 minor earthquakes occurring each year. Scientists say there’s a 25 to 40 percent chance of a major earthquake occurring in this zone in a 50-year timeframe.



IMPORTANT: Media are welcome at the event, but you must arrange in advance for access to Jefferson Barracks National Guard Post. Please call Jeff Briggs at 573-526-9232 or 573-301-7752 for arrangements.