Release Number: HQ-10-194
MEMPHIS, Tenn.-As part of its ongoing efforts to partner with the private sector to strengthen disaster readiness and prepare for all hazards, including earthquakes, this week the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) earthquake mitigation campaign, "QuakeSmart," participated in The ServiceMaster Company's Employee Earthquake Awareness Week.
The week-long event, which began September 27, was designed to raise awareness of earthquake risk, provide guidance on reducing that risk and encourage employees to take action both at home and in the workplace. It was held at the company's headquarters in Memphis, TN, located in the heart of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, an area considered to be the most active seismic zone in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
"FEMA is thrilled with ServiceMaster's commitment to training its employees on earthquake mitigation," said Edward Laatsch, Chief of FEMA's Building Science Branch, Risk Reduction Division, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration . "With their headquarters located in the heart of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, this awareness campaign is critical to ServiceMaster's ongoing efforts to help ensure the safety of their 2,000 Memphis-based employees and their families."
The QuakeSmart campaign was developed by FEMA around the premise that no community can fully recover from a damaging earthquake until its businesses are back up and running. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage businesses and their employees to become "QuakeSmart" by maintaining ongoing earthquake mitigation efforts throughout the year.
During the week, FEMA a full day of training to ServiceMaster's risk management personnel on Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage. In addition, FEMA and the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium participated in employee seminars on earthquake hazards and mitigation tips.
Individuals and businesses seeking information on the Quakesmart program should visit www.quakesmart.org.
For more information on how to prepare for an earthquake, visit www.Ready.gov.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.