AUTHORITIES WARN MISSOURIANS OF POTENTIAL EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

February 4, 2015, St. Louis, Missouri…Federal, state and local executives from disaster preparedness and emergency management organizations are gathering in St. Louis on February 6, 2015, for a summit to discuss Missouri earthquake threats, preparedness and disaster response for homes, businesses and organizations.

The earthquake summit is part of an initiative by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) called QuakeSmart to help business and organizations in at-risk earthquake communities implement earthquake mitigation actions. It will occur from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Saint Louis University in the Monastero Meeting Rooms.

Attendees will include executives from FEMA and Missouri’s State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); the City of St. Louis Emergency Management Agency (CEMA); the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission (MSSC); the Central United States Earthquake Consortia (CUSEC); and other organizations including St. Louis-based Quake Kare, the nation’s leading provider of emergency survival kits.

“A new report released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows increased risk for earthquakes in Missouri and Illinois, including increased chances for an earthquake of Magnitude Six on the Richter Scale that could cause major damage in populated areas,” said Brian Houser of Quake Kare.

“The USGS updated its seismic risk map and showed increased possibility for a significant earthquake along the New Madrid Fault, a major seismic zone that originates in New Madrid, Missouri, and is a source of earthquakes in the Midwest,” Houser said.

“The New Madrid Seismic Zone is one of the most active seismic zones in the nation and experts tell us to expect another major earthquake in the future,” said Ron Walker, Director of Missouri’s State Emergency Management Agency. “It’s important for Missourians to prepare now.”

February is “Earthquake Awareness Month” in Missouri. FEMA’s QuakeSmart Summit in St. Louis is one of many events being conducted by authorities to educate and warn people about how to prepare for earthquakes and other devastating disasters. See FEMA’s website https://www.fema.gov/quakesmart or the SEMA website http://sema.dps.mo.gov/.

Quake Kare (http://www.quakekare.com) is owned by Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis (LHB), a not-for-profit manufacturing and packaging organization with a dedicated social service mission. Quake Kare provides more than 100 different survival kits for virtually any emergency situation for individuals, families and schools and businesses.

All Quake Kare revenue directly supports Lighthouse service programs for individuals who are legally blind and visually impaired in Missouri and Southwestern Illinois.

For Quake Kare information, contact Brittney Smithers at 800.542.3697 or 314.423.4333, or see the websites http://www.quakekare.com or www.lhbindustries.com. Quake Kare Media contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.409.5203.

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