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FEMA's Region VII is preparing for National Level Exercise 2011

Preparing our nation for a catastrophic earthquake

Are you and your family ready for an earthquake?

Get your family or business ready for an earthquake by running a drill—participate in The Great Central U.S. Shakeout. Also, find out more about how to prepare your family or business for an earthquake and how what to do if one occurs-- "Drop, Cover & Hold On!"

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What would happen if "the big one" --a major earthquake--struck the Midwest today?

Is your family prepared to take care of its needs for several days if it has to? Are organizations, communities and governments ready to respond and assist during a major crisis?

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Individuals, families and businesses should be prepared for a major earthquake, but the government is getting ready too!

In conjunction with national FEMA efforts, here in FEMA Region VII we’re working closely with all of our partners to prepare for catastrophes like earthquakes--just in case!

This year, as the Midwest begins commemoration events leading up to the 200th anniversary (2012) of the catastrophic earthquakes that rocked the region, a network of partners will test the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from a catastrophic earthquake in a Tier 1 National Level Exercise (NLE). FEMA Region VII is preparing and will fully participate.

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What will happen during the drill for NLE 2011?

Simulating a 7.7 magnitude earthquake along the southwest segment of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), the May 16-20 2011, National Level Exercise will be the largest functional exercise of its kind undertaken in about 20 years. It is also the first NLE to focus on a natural hazard scenario.

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Who's involved with preparing for and participating in the drill?

Eight states and four FEMA regions will be directly impacted during the drill in May: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee. The exercise will involve more local, state, federal, private sector, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, tribal governments and other entities than any previous NLE (formerly known as the Top Officials [TOPOFF] series). The exercise activities will take place at command posts, emergency operation centers and other locations, including federal facilities in the Washington D.C. area and federal, regional, state, tribal, local and private sector facilities.

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What will be gained from NLE 2011?

NLE 2011 will offer agencies and jurisdictions a way to test how prepared they are for an earthquake, as well as exercise earthquake response plans in a near real-time, realistic environment. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge that only experience can provide by exercising response and recovery functions that are critical to responding to a catastrophic event. Lessons learned from the exercise will provide valuable insights to guide future planning for disasters and other emergencies.

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Why are we conducting the earthquake exercise now?

“The work being done for NLE 2011 is important for the future of everyone in the United States. We’re working with all of our partners to prepare for it because, as a nation, we must have the capability to manage all of the challenges that a real-life catastrophic earthquake could bring. We need to remember that it’s not a matter of IF there will be an event like this our country’s future; it’s a matter of WHEN it will happen. As an agency and as a nation, we can’t afford not to be prepared,” said Beth Freeman, FEMA regional administrator, Region VII. Regional Administrator Freeman is supporting preparations by all FEMA’s divisions for NLE 2011.

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How are the FEMA divisions in Region VII involved with NLE 2011?

The Office of External Affairs within FEMA Region VII is working closely with other federal agencies, state and local governments, private-sector organizations, tribal governments, not-for-profit organizations and other partners to build an outreach plan that will explain the significance of the NLE exercise to the media. The goal is to increase public awareness so that individuals, families, organizations and businesses understand the critical role they play in earthquake readiness. Learn more about how to prepare for earthquakes today.

Additionally, staff members are supporting regional efforts that will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquakes (in 2012) and are providing information about The Great Central U.S. Shakeout on April 28, 2011.

Leading up to NLE 2011, the National Preparedness Division is working closely with the four states that comprise FEMA Region VII, but particularly with Missouri because it is the most impacted when there is seismic activity along the New Madrid fault. Within the division, the Regional Exercise Officer provides oversight and coordination of all NLE 2011 activities within the regional office, as well as with participating states and other entities. The Division’s staff is training NLE 2011 participants to ensure excellent coordination in preparation for and during the exercise.

Bringing community organizations into planning for the exercise, the Community Preparedness Officer is working with the Recovery Division’s Voluntary Agency Liaison and state officials to help incorporate and test the partnerships that have been established as part of the “Whole Community” approach. This national approach to emergency management is a FEMA initiative that is built upon a foundation of proactive engagement between all levels of government (local, state, federal, and tribal governments), neighborhood associations, businesses, schools, faith-based community groups, trade groups, fraternal organizations and other civic-minded organizations that can mobilize their networks to build community resilience and support local needs in times of catastrophes.

The Mitigation Division- FEMA and the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program will provide mitigation and preparation activities to support NLE 2011. Some of the activities include outreach programs such as The Great Central United States ShakeOut, an earthquake exercise drill of Drop, Cover & Hold On that will occur on April 28, 2011. Register to participate in the drill.

During the drill for NLE, in May 2011, the Response Division will work with Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) liaisons and participating counterparts from state agencies in the Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC in Kansas City) that will be activated in response to the news that the simulated 7.7 earthquake has occurred. The division will also deploy a FEMA State Liaison Team as well as the Regional Type II Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to the State Emergency Operations Center located in Jefferson City, Missouri. Coordination between the IMAT, RRCC, liaison team, and other federal and state partners will provide a joint response to the earthquake and its impacts.  

The Recovery Division manages programs that enable individuals and communities (affected by disasters of all sizes) to return to normal function with, to the extent possible, minimal suffering and disruption of services. The bulk of assistance provided by this division falls into two branches: Individual and Public Assistance, which also hosts the Long-Term Community Recovery program.

National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011) will include three primary exercise events affecting the Recovery Directorate, based on a scenario for New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) earthquakes; the first is an educational National Recovery Seminar to ensure planners and players are fully knowledgeable about the key recovery issues; the second is the Functional Exercise (May 2011) that will address immediate response (up to 72 hours); and the third is the National Recovery Table Top Exercise to address recovery issues (September 2011).

The Recovery Division is providing technical guidance and input to the exercise development teams. This includes perspectives of how to best serve a large number of displaced citizens, how to creatively integrate short and long-term housing options, restore damaged and destroyed infrastructure, and how long-term disaster recovery solutions can be addressed in a coordinated and holistic manner.

The overarching recovery objective of NLE 2011 is to demonstrate the ability to implement recovery processes after a catastrophic earthquake, including the establishment of recovery priorities, the assessment of economic impact and the coordination and implementation of recovery and relief plans. These will be done to ensure that individuals, families, businesses and communities are provided with appropriate levels and types of relief with minimal delay.

The Mission Support Division– The Mission Support Division is providing financial management, information technology, procurement, facilities management, human resource and grants management functions, upon request, as always, in support of all divisions in FEMA Region VII as they prepare for NLE 2011. During the drill in May,  financial administrative support will be provided on-site.

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How can I find out more about NLE 2011 and prepare for an earthquake?

For more information on the NMSZ and earthquake preparedness efforts, please visit the Central United States Earthquake Consortium and the Great Central U.S. Shakeout Campaign websites.
When preparing for an earthquake, it's important to determine what your existing insurance policies cover and don't cover. Earthquake insurance is generally excluded from homeowners' and renters' insurance policies and must usually be purchased separately. Talk to your insurance agent to get more information today.

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(Hyperlink) Register for the Shakeout earthquake drill

Monitor earthquake activity where you live!

Monitor earthquake activity and learn the history of the New Madrid Sesmic Zone. Learn more about the seismic activity that is occurring in your city and state: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska?

 

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Last Modified: Monday, 04-Apr-2011 14:26:54 EDT