Earthquake Plans

Governor Announces Missouri Will Test Catastrophic Earthquake Plans

JEFFERSON CITY, June 15, 2007-Gov. Matt Blunt today announces Missouri will exercise the state’s catastrophic earthquake response plan in a three-day state exercise beginning June 19, which will include the Federal Emergency Management Agency of Kansas City, all state agencies, and 78 local and county response organizations.

“Our primary concern in the event of any disaster is the safety and security of Missourians,” Blunt said. "This earthquake exercise is designed to help test the plans of state and local governments in an effort to strengthen our disaster preparedness efforts. Conducting this statewide exercise will help ensure that we have a high-quality state catastrophic plan in place to help protect Missourians.”

Missouri’s exercise will deal with search and rescue, restoring roads and bridges so responders can move water, food, and supplies rapidly into the earthquake impacted areas. The earthquake exercise team designed the exercise to test the state’s plan for both response and recovery operations. All state agencies will be working at the State Emergency Operations Center located in Jefferson City. Some local jurisdictions will exercise their roles as responders, while other jurisdictions will discuss their support roles at distribution sites, sheltering destinations, or caring for the critically injured.

“While we have worked hard to develop a catastrophic earthquake plan, it is exercises like this that will help us identify weaknesses and test our capabilities. No plan is ever complete, but is constantly evolving,” said Mark James, Director of Missouri Department of Public Safety.

The voluntary organizations will also be participating in the exercise. Some of the organizations include American Red Cross, MO Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, AmeriCorps, Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Civil Air Patrol.The Earthquake triggers the Federal Spills of National Significance SONS 07 Exercise in St. Louis and the Missouri Statewide Earthquake Tabletop Exercise. The SONS 07 exercise is a hazardous materials exercise on the Mississippi River. Major Players in this Federal Exercise are U.S. EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, and Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources.

*News Release*
*Public Safety*	Matt Blunt, Governor	Mark James, Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact: Terri Durdaller Communication Director Work:(573) 751-4819 Cell: (573) 301-2023
Governor Announces Missouri Will Test Catastrophic Earthquake Plans JEFFERSON CITY, June 15, 2007-Gov. Matt Blunt today announces Missouri will exercise the state’s catastrophic earthquake response plan in a three-day state exercise beginning June 19, which will include the Federal Emergency Management Agency of Kansas City, all state agencies, and 78 local and county response organizations. “Our primary concern in the event of any disaster is the safety and security of Missourians,” Blunt said. "This earthquake exercise is designed to help test the plans of state and local governments in an effort to strengthen our disaster preparedness efforts. Conducting this statewide exercise will help ensure that we have a high-quality state catastrophic plan in place to help protect Missourians.” Missouri’s exercise will deal with search and rescue, restoring roads and bridges so responders can move water, food, and supplies rapidly into the earthquake impacted areas. The earthquake exercise team designed the exercise to test the state’s plan for both response and recovery operations. All state agencies will be working at the State Emergency Operations Center located in Jefferson City. Some local jurisdictions will exercise their roles as responders, while other jurisdictions will discuss their support roles at distribution sites, sheltering destinations, or caring for the critically injured. “While we have worked hard to develop a catastrophic earthquake plan, it is exercises like this that will help us identify weaknesses and test our capabilities. No plan is ever complete, but is constantly evolving,” said Mark James, Director of Missouri Department of Public Safety. The voluntary organizations will also be participating in the exercise. Some of the organizations include American Red Cross, MO Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, AmeriCorps, Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Civil Air Patrol.The Earthquake triggers the Federal Spills of National Significance SONS 07 Exercise in St. Louis and the Missouri Statewide Earthquake Tabletop Exercise. The SONS 07 exercise is a hazardous materials exercise on the Mississippi River. Major Players in this Federal Exercise are U.S. EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, and Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources.
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