Amy Sebring: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum Round Table! Amy Sebring: For the benefit of our first-timers, when you see a blue Web address, you can click on it and the referenced Web page should appear in a browser window Amy Sebring: After the first one, the browser window may not automatically come to the top, so you may need to bring it forward by clicking on a button at the status bar at the bottom of your screen. Amy Sebring: Right before we begin the discussion portion we will review how to submit questions/comments. Amy Sebring: Please do not send private messages to our speaker or moderator as it makes it difficult to concentrate. Amy Sebring: You are welcome to send them to each other! Amy Sebring: You may have noticed that we have had 5 Tuesdays this month, so today we invited Jim Wilkinson and Ronn Padgett to join us and tell us about CUSEC, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium. Amy Sebring: Ronn Padgett is from the Kentucky DES and serves as Chair of the Consortium, and will assist in the Q&A portion of our program today. Amy Sebring: Jim Wilkinson is joining us from CUSEC headquarters in Memphis, TN and will start us off with an overview. Good morning gentlemen and thank you for being with us. Jim, if you would like to begin please. Jim Wilkinson: Thank you Amy. Jim Wilkinson: What is the Central United States Earthquake Consortium? Jim Wilkinson: The Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) Jim Wilkinson: CUSEC was formed in 1983 as a partnership of the Federal Government (primarily the Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the seven founding member states it represents: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Jim Wilkinson: CUSEC also represents ten associate states: Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia. Jim Wilkinson: Earthquakes occurring in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, (NMSZ) and in other nearby fault zones can significantly affect these states. Jim Wilkinson: The earthquake hazard in the Central U.S. presents policy makers and emergency managers with a unique combination of problems and challenges: 1) how to prepare for a hazard that has no warning; Jim Wilkinson: 3) how to "market" earthquake mitigation and preparedness programs to a broad range of groups in the public and private sectors, and in the process foster a political, social and institutional environment that promotes earthquake risk reduction. Jim Wilkinson: CUSEC programs are guided by four goals: Jim Wilkinson: 1) To raise the level of public awareness of the earthquake hazard in the Central U.S., and to Jim Wilkinson: 2) To promote the adoption of mitigation programs, tools and techniques to reduce the Jim Wilkinson: 3) To foster multi-state planning for response and recovery to a damaging earthquake in Jim Wilkinson: 4) To promote the application of research and lessons learned from previous disasters to Jim Wilkinson: Partnership Approach Jim Wilkinson: Looks like part of # four was dropped, lets try that again Jim Wilkinson: 4) To promote the application of research and lessons learned from previous disasters to Jim Wilkinson: improve the level of preparedness for earthquakes and other hazards. Jim Wilkinson: Partnership Approach Jim Wilkinson: CUSEC carries out its programs in partnership with a variety of agencies and organizations in what is known as the "Central U.S. Partnership" (CUSP). Jim Wilkinson: The basic foundation for this partnership comes from the Member states, through the Board of Directors, that sets CUSEC priorities. Jim Wilkinson: The day-to-day liaison with CUSEC is through the State Jim Wilkinson: Earthquake Program Managers. Jim Wilkinson: The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides financial support to operate the consortia, Jim Wilkinson: and other federal agencies contribute both funding and technical assistance. Jim Wilkinson: The US Geological Survey, for example, funds an organization of the seven State Geologists in the Jim Wilkinson: The priority of the "CUSEC State Geologists" is the preparation of seismic hazard maps for use by state and local officials. Jim Wilkinson: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Red Cross both contribute in a unique way - through the designation of a "CUSEC liaison." Jim Wilkinson: These individuals are assigned to CUSEC, and provide valuable technical training and planning assistance to the Jim Wilkinson: member states. Jim Wilkinson: On the international front, CUSEC has worked closely with the Organization of American States (OAS) to establish the U.S. - Latin American Partnership, Jim Wilkinson: a hemispheric program that promotes the sharing of research, lessons learned, and technical expertise to reduce our Jim Wilkinson: collective vulnerability to earthquakes and other hazards. Jim Wilkinson: Finally, CUSEC has a network of partners in the non- government sector - including the insurance industry, Jim Wilkinson: professional associations, volunteer organizations, business and industry groups, and others. Jim Wilkinson: These groups constitute an important constituency in view of the fact that Jim Wilkinson: non-government organizations carry out the bulk of mitigation decisions and actions in our communities. Jim Wilkinson: CUSP'S common agenda, which is to seek new and innovative ways to make earthquake loss reduction a public value in the central U.S. Jim Wilkinson: CUSP exists to enhance the long-term capability of each partner to carry out its basic mission and to take advantage of new opportunities for Jim Wilkinson: political, financial, and technical support of programs and activities that will reduce potential catastrophic losses to buildings Jim Wilkinson: and critical infrastructure, protect people, businesses, critical Jim Wilkinson: infrastructure, and communities, and assist "Project Impact" communities and "Showcase Communities" to reach their goals. Jim Wilkinson: I would like to ask if Mr. Padgett, Chairman of Board of Directors would like to add anything. Ronn Padgett: Thanks. Jim has captured most of the key points about what CUSEC is and what we try to accomplish. Ronn Padgett: However, I want to note that CUSEC has been active for some 15 years in the effort to carry out these goals and to make communities more resistant to EQ threats. Ronn Padgett: I am impressed that these seven states, along with the associate states, continue to work effectively and enthusiastically together in an effort to find better ways to Ronn Padgett: lessen risks of people and communities to EQ hazards, including the "secondary" events that could occur. Ronn Padgett: I also think it's worth noting how effective it has been that the states support each other through their own EQ priorities. For example Ronn Padgett: Arkansas has continued to have a very strong schools focus and from that the other states have learned what works and what does not work. Other states have other "specialties." Ed Gray: I would like to add that CUSEC allows us to exchange ideas, materials and gives us a forum to "strut our stuff" The problem with long return hazards is that no one in our collective memories (or that of parents, grandparents and even great grandparents remember the last "big " earthquake Amy Sebring: Please continue Ronn. We will get to the discussion in just a moment. Ronn Padgett: Good point, Ed. And it's helpful that we can reach out to other key agencies such as the state transportation officials or health/medical officials for multi-state efforts at mitigation and readiness. Ronn Padgett: At this point, I think we should open the session to general discussion. That OK with everyone? Amy Sebring: Thank you Jim and Ronn. Now we will start the discussion portion. Please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your question or comment, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Amy Sebring: We are ready to start now. Amy Sebring: Question/comments? Isabel McCurdy: ? David Wolfe: ? Russell Coile: ? Amy Sebring: Isabel pls. Isabel McCurdy: Ronn, what do mean when you say other states have their own "specialties" ? Amy Sebring: ? Pat Moore: ? Amy Sebring: (Yes, please indicate to whom your question is addressed like Isabel did.) Ronn Padgett: As noted, AR has done much excellent work with school programs. Missouri has probably (Ed might talk about this) gone farther than the other states in working with transportation officials. Kentucky has done a good deal with community awareness through an annual EQ Month. Amy Sebring: David Wolfe please. David Wolfe: With such extensive use and conversion over to fiberoptics (glass) in the US for all major voice (telephone, and some radio) and data communications to me would present an obvious vulnerability during a major earthquake. Any comment? Amy Sebring: Either gentleman please. Ronn Padgett: I suspect you're correct. We already know about such vulnerability for pipelines and other infrastructure. Fortunately we have seen a pretty good response from the industries/economic sectors in these cases. I think we have to learn more on this from the telecoms. Jim Wilkinson: David, It is my understanding that fiberoptic is much more forgiving than we who think "glass would be. Amy Sebring: Russell please. Russell Coile: The National Science Foundation reorganized earthquake research by universities a ... David Wolfe: Agreed... thanks.. Tom McAllister: ? Russell Coile: couple years ago and set up three groups. Do you have a MOU or something to tie in with Russell Coile: the central consortium? Isabel McCurdy: MOU? Russell Coile: memo of understanding Jim Wilkinson: Russell, The Association of CUSEC State Geologist has am MOU with the MAE Center. Ronn Padgett: CUSEC strives to work closely with the regional EQ research institutions as well as with the other consortia across the country. David Wolfe: ? Amy Sebring: MAE Jim? Pat Moore: Ronn or Jim, within the states you mention, there are many 'independent' contingency planning groups within the private sector, are those groups active within your organization as many of those private sector companies have resources that could certainly be utilized from a safety and recovery standpoint. Ronn Padgett: There has been a good deal of recent progress on this point. I think it's correct to say more progress is needed. Ronn Padgett: However, DRBA and others work with CUSEC and the states as does IBHS and other business and insurance groups. Amy Sebring: Jim, does CUSEC provide info to public? How? Are you getting inquiries in response to disaster in Turkey? Ronn Padgett: MAE is the MidAmerica Earthquake Center. Jim can note who the participating institutions are. Jim Wilkinson: Pat, over the last few years we have begun working with the Disaster Business Recovery Alliance this group focuses on business recovery planning Amy Sebring: Jim, did you see my question above? Ronn Padgett: My staff has been following events in Turkey but we have not seen many public inquiries about it. Let me add Ronn Padgett: that CUSEC and, especially, the state EQ program managers invest much time and effort in providing information to the public. Here in KY we capitalize on every opportunity to promote EQ readiness and awareness, esp. on events that are being highly publicized. Amy Sebring: Jim did you want to add anything to that? Ronn Padgett: The "how" of getting info to the public is the usual methods: awareness campaigns, schools programs (including curriculum design), poster contests, publications and the like. Amy Sebring: Tom McAllister please. Tom McAllister: How many nuclear power plant are there in the New Madrid damage zone and what steps, if any, have been taken to safe guard them ? Pat Moore: I know that DRBA has done some good things, however, they are a 'for-profit' organization and these other groups are not and represent hundreds of private sector companies. Avagene has posted this list of these organizations on their web site from the list I gave her at last week's forum. If you can't find it, contact me at : pmoore@strohlsystems.com My suggestion would be to contact the Presidents of those private sector groups and get them involved. and Jim Wilkinson: Pat, I have not seen the list but would be very interested in obtaining a copy. Pat Moore: I would also suggest that they would be willing through their members to facilitate the distribution of your flyers, etc. If you give me your e-mail I will e-mail you the list this afternoon. Amy Sebring: Jim or Ronn, can you address Tom's question, or point him in the direction of an answer? Ronn Padgett: I don't have that specific information--the no. of nuclear plants---perhaps Jim has it at hand. Though there are none in Kentucky were involved in planning for two proposed plants that shifted to other fuels. The EQ risks for the plants are addressed very strongly in NRC requirements for site selection, design and construction. Amy Sebring: Further questions comments? Ronn Padgett: Mississippi, Tennessee have nuclear plants in their locales. They might have a different slant on the question. My experience here though was that NRC imposes (with support of community groups) rigorous requirements in re EQ and other local hazards when permits and construction are pursued. Jim Wilkinson: There are no facilities in the lower CUSEC States that would be effected by a seismic event along the New Madrid but there are facilities that could be effected by other fault zones, such as the Wabash Valley . Amy Sebring: ? Amy Sebring: Do you sponsor any conferences, training, etc. Jim or Ronn? David Wolfe: ? Jim Wilkinson: I am not sure about our northern states, I believe there are one or two plants that fall within the NMSZ Terry Storer: ? Ronn Padgett: CUSEC has sponsored, in collaboration with others such as FEMA, DOE, USGS a variety of training events. One that comes to mind is training on HAZUS. Other is EQ mitigation for hospitals. Jim could, I think, mention other events. Barbara Sims: ? Isabel McCurdy: ? Patrick Wanker: Amy, Mississippi is planning an Earthquake conference hopefully to be held late spring or early summer of 2000 in Tunica, MS to discuss earthquake issues that affect MS Barbara Sims: There are 3 nuclear plants in Michigan, one about 30 miles from Detroit... Jim Wilkinson: Following along the nuclear power plant discussion, CUSEC has worked with the electric industry of both coal and nuclear powered plants.. Ronn Padgett: Kentucky will see an EQ Symposium sponsored by KYEM and our Insurance Department during October.. which is our EQ Awareness Month. Barbara Sims: I know the Red Cross evacuation plan, but is there other planning? Jim Wilkinson: to develop mitigation plans that help them to reduce their vulnerability. Amy Sebring: Let's finish up in order please. Jim, did you want to add to events? Ronn Padgett: Yes, the states develop/maintain in cooperation with local officials a variety of evacuation plans. Good recent example is the evacuation plans triggered along the coast for hurricane response. Amy Sebring: Ok, lets go on to David Wolfe please. David Wolfe: (1) If applicable, does CUSEC have a website address and (2) for especially educating the general public, does it provide or reference to any online maps detailing known earthquake prone areas and their respective fault lines. Jim Wilkinson: David, Our web page address is www.cusec.org. Pat Moore: ? Ronn Padgett: I believe each of the CUSEC states have a web page as well. KY's www.webserve.dma.state.ky.us Jim Wilkinson: David as far as mapping issues go, the Association of CUSEC State Geologist have an area of the web page that outlines the work that they are currently doing. Amy Sebring: Terry please. Terry Storer: Later this week Dr. Mark Keim, of the CDC is doing a presentation on disaster medical response to a major EQ in the NMSZ . Was CUSEC involved in getting this gentleman into our area to speak? Ronn Padgett: Jim may know more but I did not know about this presentation. What are the details? Jim Wilkinson: I seem to have missed something what presentation are we referring to? Terry Storer: He is a featured presenter at the IL Emergency Management Conf. in Springfield,IL. Pat Moore: Are there similar state 'joint mutual aid/info.' organizations across the country? Amy Sebring: We are running out of time ... Ronn Padgett: With apologies I have to sign off. Gelonda Casey, our KY EQ Program Manager, is on line and will cover for me. It's budget time here and I have to go do budget stuff. Best regards to all. This is relatively painless. Amy Sebring: Barbara's question was answered... Amy Sebring: Isabel is next. Isabel McCurdy: Ronn and Jim, could you please post your email addresses? Amy Sebring: Thank you Ronn. Jim Wilkinson: The only CDC presentation that I'm aware of will take place on September 23 in Tunica MS David Wolfe: Thanks Ronn.... Ronn Padgett: My email is: rpadgett@kydes.dma.state.ky.us. Jim Wilkinson: Isabel, cusec@ceri.memphis.edu Amy Sebring: Ok, finally Pat's question please. Amy Sebring: Jim, can you mention other regional orgs? Would the one in the west be the Western States Seismic Policy group? Do you have ties with other similar orgs? Amy Sebring: Well, perhaps we can follow up on that one. Jim Wilkinson: Are there any more questions? Amy Sebring: Thank you very much Jim and Ronn for introducing us to CUSEC. We are pleased you would take the time to be with us today. Tom McAllister: ? Amy Sebring: Tom quickly please. Tom McAllister: What is the likeliness of a catastrophic EQ in the next few years? Jim Wilkinson: For those of you who don't know several of the "users" today are the earthquake program managers for the CUSEC States... Jim Wilkinson: If you have a question for a particular state. Amy Sebring: Yes, we were very glad that they all could come today. Amy Sebring: I don't think Jim is seeing everything on his screen ... Jim Wilkinson: Torn, the estimates for an large earthquake have been update just recently... Amy Sebring: but we need to go on to the wrap up and announcements. Amy Sebring: Before we wrap up, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the pledges that have come in since last Wednesday. Amy Sebring: Ring the //bell http://www.emforum.org/pledge.wav for Joe Fletcher, Judy Jaeger, Janet Dilling, Steve Charvat, Lois Clark McCoy, David King, and Mike Penner! Amy Sebring: We need one more pledge to make it half way to our goal. I have added a new page in the EIIP Activities section, http://www.emforum.org/eiip/pledge.htm which has the updated list of "Friends of the EIIP" and also links to the pledge form. Jim Wilkinson: Dr. Arch Johnston, Director of the Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis... Amy Sebring: We will keep on going until we reach our goal! Thanks to all of you. Amy Sebring: Ava is babysitting her grandchildren today so I will do the upcoming programs. Please note that the new issue of Act Now #10 AND the new issue of Emergency Partner Postings are now available under Quick Picks. Amy Sebring: The complete September schedule will be posted later today, but in the meantime, you can find it in our newsletter. Amy Sebring: Tomorrow, partner Claire Rubin joins us in the Library to tell us about a project she has been working on, a Disaster Time- Line which plots occurrences of major disasters against the evolving U.S. policy. Please join us at noon, EDT. Amy Sebring: Next week's Round Table on Tuesday, we are pleased to welcome back Rich Diffenbach with NEMA, to update us on their recent annual meeting. We hope to find out about further developments with some of the issues we have been following of importance to local communities in particular. Amy Sebring: Finally, we will be sending out a mailing soon about the User Docs part of our Virtual Library. We have reconstructed what we had left after our server crash, and now they are accessible via a consolidated list. Jim Wilkinson: has been working on this and the last numbers that came out listed a 6.0 of having a 48 to I believe a 70 % probability of occurring in the next fifteen years. Amy Sebring: If you submitted documents before and they are NOT on the list, and you still have copies, we would appreciate your forwarding them to us again. Monty now has multiple backup tapes, so they should not be in danger of being lost again. Amy Sebring: However, we are especially interested in getting some NEW items for the Library. We would like to get a variety of items such as SOP's, brochures, checklists, etc. in addition to papers and reports, so please take a look and see if you have something that would be helpful to others. Amy Sebring: See http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/submit.htm for how to submit Amy Sebring: Ok, that's it. We will adjourn today's session. Again, thank you all for coming, and you are most welcome to stay for some open discussion. Jim Wilkinson: These numbers go up for the next fifty years to 88-98%.