Earthquake Expert to Address Businesses and Organizations at Free Earthquake Workshop

News provided by

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

Oct 12, 2016, 12:30 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)^® and FEMA will present the QuakeSmart® Preparedness Workshop in Washington D.C. on Thursday, October 20, at The American Institute of Architects. The workshop will continue a series of free earthquake damage prevention workshops offered nationally that feature the FEMA QuakeSmart Community Resilience Program (QuakeSmart).

Speakers include USGS Research Geophysicist Thomas L. Pratt who will address the risk and likely outcomes of an earthquake in the Northeast U.S. and a special keynote presentation by Eric Letvin, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Mitigation, National Flood Insurance and Mitigation Administrator and recent White House Director of Hazard Mitigation and Risk Reduction Policy with the National Security Council.

The workshop will also host the ShakeOut International Day of Action at 10:20 a.m. During the self-led earthquake safety drill, workshop participants will practice how to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On". To date, 1.6 million people are registered to participate in this regional event, however Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills will also occur throughout the nation and in several countries worldwide. More than 35 million people around the globe are expected to participate.

QuakeSmart provides comprehensive earthquake assessments, and engineering and retrofit information designed to keep businesses open after a seismic event. Attendees will complete initial QuakeSmart assessments, and learn how to budget for business retrofit projects. The information is relevant for all personnel, especially business owners and managers, facility managers, maintenance staff, risk managers, and anyone with disaster preparedness responsibilities.

The workshop is free but registration is required.

WHAT:    Washington, D.C. QuakeSmart Preparedness Workshop
WHEN:    Thursday, October 20, 2016, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: The American Institute of Architects
               1735 New York Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20006

REGISTRATION LINK

Contact Barbara Harrison at [email protected] for more information.

About FLASH
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH collaborates with more than 120 innovative and diverse partners that share its vision of making America a more disaster‐resilient nation including: BASF, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot®, International Code Council, Kohler® Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm™, and USAA®. In 2008, FLASH® and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and gain access to its free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org or calling (877) 221- SAFE (7233). Also, get timely safety tips to ensure that you and your family are protected from natural and manmade disasters by subscribing to the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH, and following the FLASH Twitter and Facebook accounts.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)