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How Earthquakes Affect Businesses

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QuakeSmart Business Toolkit

How Earthquakes Affect Businesses

What Are Earthquakes and Why Do They Occur?

An earthquake is ground shaking caused by a sudden movement of rock in the

Earth’s crust. Such movements usually occur along faults, which are thin zones

of crushed rock separating blocks of crust. When one block suddenly slips and

moves relative to the other along a fault, the energy released creates vibrations

called seismic waves that radiate up through the crust to the Earth’s surface,

causing the ground to shake.

Earthquakes may last only a few seconds or may continue for up to several

minutes. They can occur at any time of the day or night and at any time of the year.

They are caused by stress that builds up over time as blocks of crust attempt to

move but are held in place by friction along a fault. (The Earth’s crust is divided

into large plates that continually move over, under, alongside, or apart from one

another atop the partly molten outer layer of the Earth’s core.) When the pressure

to move becomes stronger than the friction holding them together, adjoining

blocks of crust can suddenly slip, rupturing the fault, and creating an earthquake.

In addition to ground shaking, earthquakes can also generate secondary hazards

such as landslides, avalanches, surface faulting, tsunamis, liquefaction and ash

oods. For more information on secondary hazards, visit the How Do Earthquakes

Affect People? section of the FEMA website.

To learn more about the science of earthquakes, visit the U.S. Geological

Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program.

Vertical Slice Through a Subduction Zone

Source: http://www.usgs.gov

One of the many tectonic plates that make up

Earth’s outer shell descends, or “subducts,”

under an adjacent plate. This kind of boundary

between plates is called a “subduction zone.”

When the plates move suddenly in an area

where they are usually stuck, an earthquake

happens.

How Do Earthquakes Affect Businesses?

Thousands of earthquakes occur in the United States each year; most are too

small to signicantly affect businesses and communities. However, large and

very damaging earthquakes have occurred in the past and could happen again

at anytime. Unlike other natural hazards such as hurricanes, oods, and others,

an earthquake is a no-notice event that cannot be predicted. Therefore, it is more

important for the private sector and the communities to understand their risks,

make a mitigation project plan, and take earthquake mitigation actions to ensure

safety and stay in business.

Today, businesses of all types and sizes serve as the backbone of every

community and the nation’s economic strength. Small businesses alone account

for more than 99 percent of all companies with employees, employ 50 percent of

all private sector workers, and provide nearly 45 percent of the nation’s payroll.

If businesses are unable to continue operations after an earthquake event,

this could impact effective ow of critical products and services (i.e. food,

medicine, utilities, nancial, etc.), limit individual and community livelihood,

and signicantly delay disaster recovery.

DID YOU KNOW?

Small businesses alone account

for more than 99 percent of all

companies with employees,

employ 50 percent of all private

sector workers, and provide

nearly 45 percent of the Nation’s

payroll.

Page 1

How Earthquakes Affect Businesses

In general, many businesses have invested in emergency management and

continuity of operations planning. However, most businesses have not conducted

earthquake mitigation measures to protect their assets, staff and business

operations. During an earthquake, buildings—or their components or contents—

can be collapsed, toppled, broken apart, tossed around, or rendered inoperable

or unusable. The same can happen to lifeline infrastructure systems and their

components, including those related to transportation, such as roads, bridges,

railways, ports, and airports, and those related to utilities, such as distribution lines

for water, wastewater, electric power, telecommunications, natural gas, and liquid

fuels. Damage incurred from these hazards, such as broken gas or water pipes, can

itself be hazardous, generating further damage by igniting res or ooding buildings.

Hazards such as structure failure, falling, collapsing or airborne objects, earthquake-

induced res or ooding, and others can also cause serious casualties. In addition to

casualties, individuals can incur direct economic losses, either personal or business-

related, resulting from damage to existing property. Businesses can temporarily lose

the ability to generate income, due to other business and employment interruptions

or terminations brought about by damage to private property or public infrastructure.

DID YOU KNOW?

Most businesses have not

conducted earthquake

mitigation measures to protect

their assets, staff and business

operations.

What Businesses Can Do

Many businesses understand the concept of emergency management and

continuity planning. But these could be complex issues depending on their

particular industry, size and scope as well as their level of risks from natural

and man-made hazards. All businesses must account for all of their exposed,

relevant hazards in order to reasonably stay in business. Guidance to all-hazards,

business preparedness, and continuity exist via Ready.gov, Open for Business

and Disaster Resistant Business (DRB).

As part of addressing all-hazards, it is critical for businesses to also incorporate

actionable earthquake mitigation solutions into their planning and business

decisions. By doing so, businesses protect the organization’s assets (people,

property, operations); sustain the capability to provide goods and/or services to

customers and/or its supply chain; maintain cash ow; preserve competitive

advantage and reputation; and provide the ability to meet legal, regulatory, nancial

and contractual obligations.

FEMA NEWS PHOTO

Businesses in and around Seattle, WA were

damaged by the February 2001 earthquake.

Page 2

How QuakeSmart Can Help

Background

Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

(NEHRP) in 1977, which brings together four agencies: FEMA, the U.S.

Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the

National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) in order to coordinate

their earthquake-related activities. Under the program, it is FEMA’s responsibility

to implement earthquake awareness and outreach programs that ultimately reduces

seismic risks and improves community resilience from earthquake events. Over

the years, FEMA has accomplished numerous initiatives particularly in disaster

resilient building codes, training, guidance development, planning support, and

others. To further advance this partnership with the private sector, FEMA NEHRP

introduced QuakeSmart in 2008 to collaborate with businesses on earthquake

awareness and mitigation implementation.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mitigating your earthquake risk

mean getting back to business

and resuming your operations

faster after an earthquake,

which allows you to:

■

Lower the risk of employee

and customer injury;

■

Gain a competitive advantage;

■

Protect your inventory;

■

Potentially reduce insurance

premiums;

■

Reap the goodwill of your

customers, suppliers,

employees, and grateful

community.

Page 1

How QuakeSmart Can Help

What is Earthquake Mitigation?

Earthquake Mitigation is any action taken to reduce damages or losses to your

business, employees, building and its contents should an earthquake occur. In

addition to basic preparedness activities such as creating and exercising disaster

plans, preparing disaster supply kits, and knowing how to Drop, Cover, and Hold

On, the private sector must complement these by implementing mitigation actions

to reduce earthquake risks and further minimize disruptions, damages, and losses.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), earthquakes are one

of the costliest natural hazards faced by the nation, posing a signicant risk to 75

million Americans in 39 states. According to FEMA 366: HAZUS-MH Estimated

Annualized Earthquake Losses for the United States, estimating the varying degree

of earthquake risk throughout the United States is useful for informed decision-

making on mitigation policies, priorities, strategies, and funding levels in the

public and private sectors. For example, potential losses to new buildings may be

reduced by applying seismic building codes and using specialized construction

techniques. While there is a good understanding of earthquakes and what they can

do in high risk areas such as Los Angeles, there is also growing recognition that

while other regions may have a moderate earthquake hazard risk, they are still at

high risk of signicant damage and loss. This high-risk level reects the dense

concentrations of buildings and infrastructure in these areas constructed without

the benet of modern seismic design provisions.

In addition to potential structural damages, non-structural components (such

as contents, furnishings, architectural elements, etc.) signicantly contribute

to earthquake costs and damages and could impact safe evacuation, continued

operations, and rapid recovery for many businesses. If businesses cannot operate

immediately after an earthquake due to damages or employee loss, this greatly

affects the community, its economy, and its ability to recover after an earthquake.

When businesses mitigate their earthquake risks, communities can recover and

rebuild faster and stronger.

Ultimately, mitigation is what would ensure that your staff, facility and

contents could withstand the earthquake and enable you to continue operations or

rapidly recover. If you want to stay in business and save your investment during

an earthquake, mitigation is right for you. Working together with other local

businesses to mitigate is also essential for a quick recovery for your business as

well as the community.

DID YOU KNOW?

Typically, 80 percent of a

building’s value lies in its

nonstructural elements,

components and contents.

Therefore, if you are a building

owner, why not spend your

mitigation resources on your

biggest investment?

Adam DuBrowa/FEMA Photo by

Calexico, CA, April 7, 2010 – A magnitude 7.2

earthquake struck this market leaving a trail of

broken merchandise and products throughout

the store. Had the store taken proper mitigation

steps such as using straps to keep products in

place, damages would have been minimized.

Page 2

How QuakeSmart Can Help

What is QuakeSmart?

QuakeSmart is a FEMA NEHRP initiative to help businesses in at-risk

earthquake communities implement earthquake mitigation actions.

QuakeSmart is a 3-step mitigation process that businesses can easily integrate

in their existing or future disaster plans and business decisions:

Step 1: Identify Your Risk

When identifying your risks, the initial step is to determine if your business is

at risk for earthquakes. This includes identifying if your facility is in an earthquake

hazard area. Then you identify your potential vulnerabilities: structure, non-

structural components, and contents (hazard + vulnerability = risks).

Structural risks include collapse-prone structure types such as non-ductile

(brittle) concrete buildings; unreinforced masonry (brick, block, or adobe); plan

irregularity (non-rectangular buildings); and soft story conguration (weak rst

story). Nonstructural risk sources include unreinforced brick parapets, brick

chimneys, and ornamental siding, suspended ceilings, light xtures, and gas-

red equipment and the presence of hazardous materials. At-risk contents may

include tall or heavy furniture, storage racks, other furnishings and equipment

prone to fall over, and items that may fall or slide and block exits. Actions

taken under this step will help you and your organization comprehensively

identify and prioritize your overall level of earthquake risks.

Step 2: Make a Plan

Based on your earthquake risks, this step allows you to start planning your

mitigation projects to address those risks. Making a mitigation project plan means

dening a scope of work, budgeting funds to pay for it, and then scheduling the

time to get it done. Depending on your earthquake risks and funding, sometimes

the budget or schedule will prompt you to reduce or increase the scope. It is

part of the planning process to think about your options and make sure you’re

spending your resources effectively. Your plan doesn’t have to be complicated.

Its sole purpose is to help you go from thinking about your risk to mitigating it.

Step 3: Take Action

Finally, implement your mitigation project plan and solutions. Nonstructural

solutions might be taking the simple step of anchoring a bookshelf or le cabinet

to the wall, as well as adding removable straps to secure the shelf’s contents, and a

safety latch to prevent the cabinets from opening during shaking. Other solutions

include securing ceiling fans with cable supports, storing heavy items on

oors, installing exible gas lines to space heaters or propane tanks, installing

hook and loop straps to desk-mounted computers, and securing table lamps or

fragile collectibles on shelves with museum wax or putty. Structural solutions

could include retrotting unreinforced masonry, installing shear walls, and

strengthening the structural frame of your building by creating a continuous

load path.

Without taking these actions, an earthquake may shut down your operations,

resulting in lost revenue or worse, the closing of your business. This QuakeSmart

Toolkit will provide you with actionable and scalable processes, basic guidelines

and easy to use tools to help you easily start each of these steps.

The QuakeSmart Toolkit Poster showcases

the 3-step mitigation process.

DID YOU KNOW?

There is a difference

between preparedness

and mitigation.

Preparedness is getting you

ready

should the disaster occur.

Preparedness efforts include (but

are not limited to):

■

Creating and exercising a

disaster plan – emergency

contacts, location of First Aid/

CPR kits, shelter, etc.

■

Preparing disaster supply kits

– food, water, lighting, tools,

protective gear, etc.

■

Knowing how to protect

yourself during the

earthquake (i.e. Drop, Cover,

and Hold On)

For earthquake preparedness resources

such as continuity plan guidance and disaster

kit checklists, please visit FEMA’s Ready

Business Program, 7 Steps to an Earthquake

Resilient Business, ShakeOut Website,

Disaster Resistant Business Toolkit and IBHS

Open for Business

Toolkit.

Page 3

Step 1: Identify Your Risk

1. Identify Your Earthquake Hazard

Businesses need to determine if they’re located in an earthquake hazard area. The

United States Geological Survey (USGS) website provides useful information about

your area’s earthquake hazard, including shake maps and data on the most recent

earthquakes. It is also important to determine if your supply chain, vendors, clients/

customers, etc. are located in an earthquake hazard area because their risk is also your

risk. Should any of those be impacted, your business and community could also be

affected.

To determine whether your business is located in an earthquake hazard area, please

see the USGS Earthquake Hazard Map or visit the USGS website for more details.

.usgs.govhttp://wwwSource:

The USGS National Seismic Hazard Maps

display earthquake ground motions for various

probability levels across the United States and

are applied in seismic provisions of building

codes, insurance rate structures, risk assess-

ments, and other public policy.

2. Identify Your Earthquake Vulnerabilities

Review the structural and nonstructural vulnerabilities of your building to assess

your overall earthquake risk.

Structural Risks

When addressing structural risks, the goal is to make your building more

resistant to collapse, damage and disruption in the event of an earthquake.

Depending on when and how they were designed and built, existing buildings

may have structural weaknesses that make them more vulnerable to earthquakes.

Check with your local building-regulatory agency to nd out whether, and for

how long, structures in your area have been subject to building codes containing

seismic design provisions. Facilities constructed before adequate provisions

came into effect may have structural vulnerabilities.

NOTE: Businesses renting or leasing should consult the building owner

before addressing any structural risks.

Adam DuBrowa/FEMA Photo by

Structural Risk: A homeowner retroted their

home with earthquake straps and bolts to pre-

vent movement in the event of an earthquake.

Nonstructural Risks

During an earthquake, which of the following nonstructural elements

within your facility could fall and/or break to cause re, additional damage,

injury, interruption of business operations, or costly repair/recovery expenses?

Nonstructural seismic weaknesses can be as or more dangerous, costly, and

disruptive as structural vulnerabilities. Any nonstructural items that are not

effectively anchored, braced, reinforced, or otherwise secured could become

safety hazards or property losses in an earthquake. Design and construction

professionals are needed to properly secure some of these components, while

others can be made safe by maintenance staff or other employees.

Photo by Mike Grifn

Roof parapet bracing is a highly recommended

nonstructural earthquake mitigation activity.

Page 1

Step 1: Identify Your Risk

The following is a basic checklist of potential nonstructural and structural vulnerabilities:

Nonstructural Building Utility Systems

Making buildings safer can

☐ Propane Tank ☐ Air Compressor

be more affordable and

☐

Water Heater

☐

Automatic Fire Sprinkler Piping & Heads

less disruptive when done

☐

Piping

☐ Others (if any, list separately)

incrementally. See the following

☐

HVAC Equipment and Ducts

FEMA publications for guidance:

☐

Suspended Space Heater

☐

Fuel Tank

■

Incremental Seismic

Rehabilitation of School

Buildings, K–12 (FEMA 395)

Nonstructural Architectural Elements

■

Incremental Seismic

☐ Built-In Partitions ☐ Exterior Signs

Rehabilitation of Hospital

☐ Suspended T-Bar Ceilings ☐ Freestanding Walls or Fences

Buildings (FEMA 396)

☐

Suspended Light Fixtures

☐ Others (if any, list separately)

☐

■

Incremental Seismic

Stairways

☐

Rehabilitation of Ofce

Windows

☐

Buildings (FEMA 397)

Roof Parapets

☐

Exterior Veneer

■

Incremental Seismic

Rehabilitation of Retail

Buildings (FEMA 399)

Nonstructural Furniture and Contents

■

Incremental Seismic

☐ ☐

Rehabilitation of Hotel/

Computers Fragile Artwork

☐

Motel Buildings (FEMA 400)

Tall Shelving-Free Standing & Wall Unit ☐ Free-Standing Half-Height Partitions

☐

Library Shelving or Stacks

☐ Miscellaneous Furniture

☐

Tall File Cabinets

☐ Others (if any, list separately)

For specic methods of securing

☐ Drawers and Cabinets

common nonstructural building

☐ Compressed-Gas Cylinders

components, see Reducing

☐ Containers of Hazardous Materials

the Risks of Nonstructural

Earthquake Damage (FEMA

E-74).

Structural Vulnerabilities

☐ Unreinforced masonry construction ☐ Unreinforced or unanchored brick

☐

Cripple walls not bolted to foundation elements in your building structure

☐

Older, non-ductile concrete or facade

construction

☐ Others (if any, list separately)

☐

Concrete tilt up construction with

unachored roof system

☐

Soft story construction or other

building irregularities

Earthquake risk-reduction measures can range from inexpensive methods of

securing building contents to more extensive and expensive structural modications.

The mix of measures that is optimal for your facilities will depend on factors such as

the potential severity of the earthquake hazards in your locale, the current condition

of your facilities, whether your workplace is owned or leased, and how vulnerable

your operations are to facility damage and associated downtime.

Page 2

FEDERAL INSURANCE AND MITIGATION ADMINISTRATION

Qu akeSm ar t B usi ne ss Tool ki t

Step 2: Make a Plan

After you have identified the potential earthquake risks and how they could impact your business, it’s time to create

your mitigation plan and decide on techniques and solutions to reduce your risks from earthquakes. Knowing how to

make a mitigation plan will take you one step closer to becoming a more resilient business. As the backbone of the

nation’s economy, America’s businesses must be ready and able to withstand and recover rapidly from disasters — this

takes some planning. Unfortunately, small businesses are more vulnerable to losses from earthquakes because they

typically have fewer resources to devote to the development of mitigation plans. Larger businesses may have emergency

management and continuity of operations plans as well as other resources but they may not have the knowledge on how to

effectively integrate mitigation into their planning and decision making process.

Based on your identified earthquake risks, the work plan templates on this page could be used to support your

earthquake mitigation planning process.

Earthquake Mitigation Plan Template

Title/Department:

Address:

Phone Number:

Company:

Name:

Address:

Phone Number:

Executive Summary:

Background: (Summary description of seismic risk to include priorities)

Goals & Objectives:

Project Lead:

Page 1

Step 2: Make a Plan

Mitigation Project Plan (Do It-Yourself):

These are nonstructural earthquake mitigation activities that can be completed by someone with common tools and

readily available materials. The lists below are non-inclusive. For full guidance on nonstructural risks, please refer to

FEMA E-74: Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage.

Nonstructural Risks Potential Mitigation Assigned To Budget Completion Date

Solutions

BuildingUtility Systems

Propane Tanks Remove from high risk areas,

secure in low traffic area

Water Heater Brace to wall studs, use flex

ible connectors

Furniture and Contents

Computers Strap or Velcro

monitor/lap

top to desk, latch desktop to

desk

Tall Shelving Attach to wall with brackets

Library Stacks Brace to floor, install guards

for books

Tall File Cabinets Secure to wall, install cabinet

latches

Drawers and Cabinets Install latches to drawers and

cabinets

Compressed-Gas Attach to wall with chains or

Cylinders braces

Hazardous Materials Remove from business area

Fragile Artwork Secure to walls with screws

and to tables with putty

Miscellaneous Secure ceiling fans and lights

Furniture/Fixtures with safety cables

Page 2

Step 2: Make a Plan

Mitigation Project Plan (Engineering-Required Mitigation Projects – Hire A Professional)

Assessing structural risks and more complex nonstructural risks requires the services of a structural engineer or other

design professional to accurately evaluate and design reasonable mitigation measures. The following list is not all-inclu-

sive; it is meant to guide you when speaking with a professional. So when in doubt, hire a professional!

Nonstructura

l Risks

Potentia

l Mitigation

Solutions

Assigne

d To

Budget

Completio

n Date

Buildin

g Utility Systems

Piping

VAC Equipment &

Ducts

Suspended Space

Heater

Fuel

Tank

Air Compressor

Automatic Fire

Sprinkler Piping &

Heads

rchitectural Elements

Built

-in Partitions

Suspended

T-Bar

Ceilings/Light Fixtures

Stairways

indows

Roof Parapets

Exterior

Veneer/

Exterior Signs

Freestanding

Walls or

Fences

Furnitu

re and Contents

Freestanding

Half-

Heigh

t Partitions

Page 3

Step 2: Make a Plan

Other Considerations:

Page 4

Structural Risks Potential Assigned To Budget Completion Date

Mitigation

Solutions

Unreinforced

Masonry

Construction

Cripple walls not

bolted to foundation

Older, non-ductile

concrete

construction

Concrete tilt up

construction with

unanchored roof system

Soft story construction

or other building

irregularities

Unreinforced or

unanchored brick

elements in your

building structure or

facade

Step 3: Take Action

How to Execute Your Earthquake Mitigation Project Plan

Now that you have identied your risks and developed a mitigation project

plan, it’s time to take action. Ensure that your plan is fully approved by the owner

(landlord if leasing), facility engineers, emergency managers, investment planners,

and other pertinent decision makers within your business organization to ensure that

the risks are understood, the strategies for addressing them are accepted, and that

resources (i.e. staff, time, funds, etc.) are secured to ensure the effective execution and

implementation of the plan.

It is also recommended for the project lead to coordinate with the human capital and

customer service department so employees and customers can be informed of future

activities as well as use this as an opportunity to market the company’s dedication to

safety. If your company plans to hire a professional or a contractor be sure to check

references and ensure the contractor is experienced to do the work.

news photos Photo by John Shea/ FEMA

Mitigation braces hold the cabinet to wall in case

of earthquake.

How to Organize an Employee Awareness Campaign

Whether you have 10 employees or 1,000, the recommendations can be scaled to

your organization. Should a large earthquake occur in your area, it may prevent your

employees from coming to work for days or even weeks. Your workforce is critical to

sustaining your business. Even more daunting, the safety of your employees is greatly

threatened due to nonstructural hazards such as falling objects and debris. While you

cannot control or predict an earthquake, you can inform your staff about the simple

steps they can take to mitigate hazards in their home. This fact sheet provides you

with guidance on how to organize an employee awareness campaign on earthquake

mitigation. Making your employees aware of their home hazards and how to “secure

their stuff” may save their lives and ultimately your business, should an earthquake

occur.

QuakeSmart employee awareness campaign held

at ServiceMaster headquarters.

Athanitis, Outreach Photo by Lindsey

Process Partners

Page 1

Step 3: Take Action

1. Choose A Time for the Awareness Campaign

FEMA recommends a one-week campaign because earthquake mitigation is not

a simple concept to understand and getting people to take action requires repetitive

messaging to the audience. In fact, research shows that in order to change any habits

of your audience; you must provide them with messaging multiple times. Repetition,

effective frequency and a simple message inuences the greatest behavioral changes.

You may want to tie your campaign week around locally recognized events such as a

historic earthquake anniversary, a State ShakeOut campaign, and/or national events

such as National Preparedness Month, Fire Safety Month or Building Safety Month.

Before you begin the campaign, contact and inform your local Emergency Manager

about your events – he or she may offer you additional ideas or may want to participate.

A directory of state emergency management agencies is available at this link: http://

www.fema.gov/about/contact/statedr.shtm.

2. Begin the Campaign on a Monday

■

Email or tell your employees that you are launching QuakeSmart Awareness

Campaign that will give them the tools to Identify Their Risk, Make a Plan, and

Take Action (Template A).

■

Post QuakeSmart posters, banners, table tents, bulletin board signs, and other

FEMA literature around common work areas.

-64

High

-48

-32

-8

-4

Low

U.S. EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MAP

Protect yourself and your property – reduce earthquake risk.

Identify

Your Risk

Make

a Plan

Take

Action

Need help? Get your free QuakeSmart toolkit at

www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake

The QuakeSmart Toolkit Poster can be a useful

reminder for businesses looking to educate their

employees about earthquake mitigation.

■

On Monday, email your employees a “QuakeSmart Tip of the Day,”

which will inform them of mitigation activities they could do in their home.

■

Upload the QuakeSmart videos to your company’s website, or share the

QuakeSmart Toolkit link located on FEMA.gov/quakesmart.

The QuakeSmart Mitigation Training Video is

one of three videos available in the QuakeSmart

Business Toolkit.

3. Engage With Your Employees

■

Survey Employees: Prior to the campaign, use an online survey tool to measure

employee awareness about mitigation, and ask what steps, if any, have they taken

to reduce hazards in their home. After the campaign, survey them again and

measure its effectiveness. Should the results be favorable, be sure to report this

success back to your employees via email or company newsletter.

■

Identify a QuakeSmart Team or Champion: Find one or more people who

can act as “cheerleaders” for earthquake mitigation and encourage others. This

might be a good opportunity to boost morale or put certain employees in the

spotlight.

■

Host a Lunch ‘N Learn:

Invite local authorities to speak about earthquake mitigation; present the

QuakeSmart videos; purchase earthquake mitigation supplies and discuss them

with your employees – rafe them off after the meeting; use FEMA’s

Home Hazard Hunt (FEMA 528) poster as a guide for discussion.

The Earthquake Home Hazard Hunt poster

(FEMA 528) provides visuals and descriptions

so that homeowners can identify and x at-risk

areas of their homes to reduce future earthquake

damage and disruption.

Source: FEMA 528

Page 2

Step 3: Take Action

As part of your employee awareness campaign, you may want to offer employees a

“Tip of the Day” or guidance for what they should be doing at home to ensure their

safety from an earthquake event. After all, you would want to make sure that your

employees are able to return to work after an earthquake event so you can stay in

business and continue your essential functions. Below are some suggestions that

you could help share with your employees:

• Move heavy items, such as pictures, mirrors or tall dressers, away

from beds, couches and anywhere people sit.

• Secure tall furniture and bookcases with lag bolts to wall studs. Add

lips to shelves to prevent costly items from sliding off their supports.

• Put latches on cabinet doors, especially in your kitchen.

• Fasten heavy or valuable items to shelves or tables.

• Secure le cabinets, computers, televisions and machinery that may

move during an earthquake.

• Use easy museum/tack putty to secure fragile objects on tables and

shelves.

• Store potentially hazardous materials such as cleaners, fertilizers,

chemicals, and petroleum products in appropriate containers and in

sturdy cabinets fastened to the wall or oor.

• Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves and store breakable items

in lower cabinets.

• Ask a carpenter or an electrician to determine whether light xtures

and modular ceiling systems are securely fastened.

• Be sure your water heater is fastened to the studs or masonry of the

wall. If you use propane gas, be sure the storage tank is secured.

Unsecured water heaters often fall over during earthquakes, which

could rupture rigid water and gas connections as well as deplete a

source of clean water.

• Fasten heavy objects to the building structure.

• Make sure all gas heaters and appliances are connected to the gas pipe

through exible tubing.

• Relocate objects to avoid blocking exits.

• Secure your wood stove to wall or oor studs. Make sure you have

a re extinguisher close at hand.

Computers can easily be secured to prevent any

damage or injury in the event of an earthquake.

Image courtesy of the Institute for Business &

Home Safety (IBHS).

Use easy museum/tack putty to secure fragile

objects on tables and shelves.

Athanitis, Outreach Process Photo by Lindsey

Parnerst

Other potential hazards around the home could include bookshelves, windows,

lights, dishes, breakables, paintings, tabletop items, le cabinets, and ventilation

ducts. For securing a wide range of objects, most local hardware stores carry a wide

range of straps, latches, brackets, bracing kits, Velcro

™

products, earthquake wax,

earthquake putty, wire and bolts. In some cases, objects could be replaced with a

more secure or safer substitute, reducing or eliminating a hazard all together. For

example, new light xtures might be considered in place of securing old heavier

ones.

Securing water heaters is a easy-to-do yet

essential step to mitigating your earthquake

risks.

Illustration by Mike Grifn

Page 3

Step 3: Take Action

■

Host an Information Fair: If you are a small business, team up with

neighboring businesses or your Chamber of Commerce to have an

information fair on earthquake mitigation. If you are a large business,

consider inviting outside organizations to showcase information on

mitigation and preparedness such as the American Red Cross, local police

and re departments, mitigation supply companies, hospitals, etc.

■

Create a Contest: Once employees are aware of earthquake mitigation,

create a contest where employees can take QuakeSmart action at home.

Have them take pictures of their efforts and share them with your

QuakeSmart Champion. The employee with the most efforts could be

given non-nancial incentives such as certicates of achievements,

public recognition, or an award for outstanding QuakeSmart achievement.

These pictures could be shared on your company website, newsletter,

emailed to clients or stakeholders, and shared with local media.

■

Review and Reward Progress: Following the campaign, consider quarterly

reminders or having your QuakeSmart Champion follow-up with employees

about their mitigation efforts. Consistency and repetition will encourage

continued action.

■

Make it a Tradition: Use the results of the campaign to revise it for the

following year. Consider the following questions for a follow-up campaign -

What communication tools worked well? How can you keep the message

fresh? Are there new avenues to QuakeSmart? Have your Champion check

FEMA.gov/quakesmart for updated materials.

4. Alert the Media

Informing the media about your awareness campaign can boost your business’

reputation as well as encourage the rest of community to take QuakeSmart action.

If you host an information fair, consider inviting a local TV, radio, or newspaper

reporters to cover the event. Use Template B as a guide for press release format.

5. Utilize Social Media Outlets

If your company uses Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social media to

communicate, showcasing your QuakeSmart campaign can deliver fresh and

interesting content. Provide continual updates highlighting any of the actions

mentioned above in Section 3. Recognize an employee or even provide updates

about your company’s mitigation efforts. Perhaps assign the social media role to

your QuakeSmart Champion during the week-long campaign.

Presentations of earthquake risk information

can be made more effective through the use of

maps and other visual aids designed to address

the specic needs and interests of individual

decision-makers.

It may be helpful to arrange formal meetings

with your experts to ensure that their knowledge,

communications skills, and enthusiasm are

adequate to help you obtain the support of key

professional groups.

Take Action Template B is available in the

QuakeSmart Toolkit for businesses to modify

and distrubute their own press releases.

Source: FEMA 479 Source: FEMA 479

Page 4

Step 3: Take Action

How to Build Partnerships within Your Community

Local businesses and communities depend on each other to prepare for disasters

and reduce potential losses of life and property. Hazard mitigation partnerships

generate knowledge, solve problems, and aid in planning. Examples of collaboration

through partnerships include:

■

Developing mitigation project plans;

■

Sharing expertise and access to specialized tools, such as geographic

information systems (GIS);

■

Conducting risk assessments of exposures and vulnerabilities;

■

Providing architectural and engineering assistance;

■

Streamlining the permit and approval processes;

■

Conducting community surveys;

■

Hosting mitigation symposiums, business preparedness meetings, and

professional retrot seminars;

■

Conducting marketing activities, cooperative extension activities, and

awareness seminars.

Ideas for Partnerships

Choose or consider the kind of partnership mentioned on the right and then apply

any of the ideas below:

■

Host a QuakeSmart Lunch ‘n Learn or workshop on business mitigtion.

Use the QuakeSmart Business Toolkit for guidance, and present the available

QuakeSmart videos to your audience.

■

Create an Earthquake Alliance, either within your company or with other key

businesses that may include a hospital, bank, local government ofcials,

re/police departments, retailers including hardware, grocery, and clothing, etc.

Together, discuss how an earthquake can impact an entire community and how

business mitigation can reduce their risks. (For a successful alliance case study,

refer to the Earthquake Country Alliance, based in California.)

■

Use locally recognized events such as an earthquake preparedness month, State

ShakeOut campaign, and/or national events such as National Preparedness

Month, Fire Safety Month or Building Safety Month to kick off your events. The

media is more likely to cover your event due to the heightened awareness during

these months, which may help boost attendance.

Please refer to How to

Organize an Employee

Awareness Campaign in

the QuakeSmart Toolkit. The

awareness campaign can

be applied to any of your

audience groups below.

Internal Partnerships

■

Franchises

■

Subsidiaries

■

Suppliers

■

Subcontractors

■

Employees

External Partnerships

■

Chambers of Commerce

■

Non-prot Organizations

■

Local Government and

Emergency Management

■

Local or State engineering

or architectural associations

■

State Hazard Mitigation

Ofcers

■

Local Tribal Governments

■

Media

■

Local and Regional

Earthquake Organizations:

• Cascadia Region

Earthquake Workgroup

(CREW)

• Northeast States

Emergency Consortium

(NESEC)

• Western States Seismic

Policy Council (WSSPC)

• Earthquake Country

Alliance (ECA)

Page 5

Step 3: Take Action

Ideas for Partnerships (continued...)

■

Depending on your location, you may work with State or regional earthquake

program managers, regional earthquake consortia, seismic safety

commissions, committees, and councils, and other FEMA earthquake

partners. For contact information of more than 300 organizations and

individuals involved in earthquake mitigation at the federal and state levels

and in the non-governmental sector, visit the Directory of FEMA Earthquake

Partners.

.cusec.orghttp://wwwSource:

Regional Earthquake Consortia, such as the

Central United States Earthquake Consortium

(CUSEC), can offer additional information and

resources for mitigation partnerships or pro-

grams. The QuakeSmart Toolkit also offers a

list of Valuable Websites and Other Resources.

■

Work with local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or your local school district to

encourage children to spread the word. Children are some of the best messengers

when it comes to mitigation, safety and preparedness.

■

Use free communication networks: newsletters, website headers, and public

service announcements.

■

Survey area businesses and assess the costs associated with earthquake

mitigation versus potential damage. Present the information gathered to

partner stakeholders.

■

Ask partners to designate a Business Mitigation and Earthquake Awareness Day.

■

Post your accomplishments and initiatives on your company’s website so others,

including prospective community investors, know what your partnership is

doing to protect their business investments and build a sustainable

community. Also consider social media as an outreach channel.

■

Work with community ofcials to encourage strong mitigation and

emergency response planning at local and state levels and advocate

for improvements to public infrastructure including communications,

transportation, and utilities.

.bart.gov http://wwwSource:

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

System posts updates on their website about

the “Earthquake Safety Program” and current

construction in progress.

Page 6

Step 3: Take Action

How to Celebrate Success

If you have taken the proper steps of being QuakeSmart by identifying your risk,

making a plan, and taking action, then now is the time to celebrate your mitigation

success story. By informing your community on how you have mitigated, you can

encourage others to do the same. Creating a resilient business ultimately creates

a resilient community. Sharing your success story not only informs the public on

how to reduce their hazards, but it also can simultaneously promote your business

and its services.

Before releasing your mitigation success story, it’s important to organize your

outreach plan and consider the following:

Barry Pascal, retired owner of Northridge

Pharmacy, encourages members of the Encino

Chamber of Commerce to mitigate their

businesses.

Photo by Justin Malko

1. Your Audience

■

Employees

■

Tribal Communities/Governments

■

Customers

■

Community/Government Ofcials

■

Other Businesses/Business Groups

■

Chambers of Commerce

■

Surrounding Communities

■

Local Media

2. Key Messages

■

“We are all in this together!”

■

“Mitigation makes communities more resilient to disasters.”

■

“The costs of mitigation are more than worth it. On average, every dollar spent

on hazard mitigation provides $4 in future benets.”

■

“A business toolkit on earthquake mitigation is now available on FEMA.gov.”

In 2008, the Evansville Chamber of Commerce

held a QuakeSmart forumfor its members.

The event resulted in over 100 members in

attendance and received exceptional media

coverage in television and print.

.evansvillechamber.comhttp://wwwSource:

3. Partnerships

■

The more parties involved in mitigating risks in the community, the more media

friendly your story becomes.

■

Partnering with your FEMA Regional Ofce, local or State emergency

management agencies and other disaster related government ofcials would be

a good rst step to getting the message out.

4. Become a Leader

If no one else in the community is taking charge, think of being the

mitigation mentor and champion in your community.

Documenting your mitigation actions will

encourage media coverage.

ideo rianing V QuakeSmart TSource: FEMA

Page 7

Press releases are used to pitch news media on covering your story. They are

generally summaries written in a journalist-friendly format. See Template D for

an example.

■

Media Alerts or Media Advisories are created to announce an event to the

broadcast media (radio or television). See Template E for an example.

Step 3: Take Action

5. Document Your Mitigation

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Video and/or photography of your

mitigation will encourage television news programs, blogs and social media

sites to cover your story.

6. Draft Talking Points

Talking points are one or two-sentence statements that highlight your key

messages, which summarize your story and guide public speakers. Talking

points are often used as sound bites (especially with radio or television).

See Template C for an example.

7. Write Press Materials

■

8. Utilize Social Media Outlets

If your company uses Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social media

channels to communicate, showcasing your QuakeSmart efforts can deliver

fresh and interesting content. Provide continual updates highlighting any

of your mitigation actions, or recognize an employee who may have done

the same at home. Perhaps assign the social media role to a QuakeSmart

Champion during the one-week campaign.

9. Publicize Your Employee Awareness Campaign

(See How to Organize an Employee Awareness Campaign on page 1.)

10. Determine the Best Outlets for Your Mitigation Story

An effective place to share your mitigation story is on the FEMA Mitigation

Best Practices Portfolio online. The portfolio hosts a catalog of mitigation

best practices and case studies from FEMA representatives and businesses

across the country. With a sample best practice and an easy-to-use online

submission form, the FEMA Mitigation Best Practices Portfolio is the most

effective way to share your story with other businesses and communities

looking to reduce their disaster risk.

Here are some recommended

outlets to share your story:

■

State, local and Tribal

governments

■

News Media

Local newspapers, blogs, radio

programs, television news

programs, and industry trade

magazines – See media

pitching tips on the next page

■

Business groups

Chambers of Commerce,

business groups, tourism

committees and economic

development councils

■

Social Media sites

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,

Google+, Flickr, LinkedIn,

Reddit, Digg, StumbleUpon

and others

■

Service organizations

American Red Cross, Salvation

Army, Rotary, Kiwanis, Masons

and scouting organizations

■

Social organizations

Church organizations,

neighborhood associations

and re/police department

auxiliaries

■

Professional associations

Emergency managers,

bankers, realtors, insurance

professionals, oodplain

managers,contractors,

engineers, reghters and

peace ofcers

■

Trade shows/Business fairs

■

Local or special events

Page 8

Step 3: Take Action

11. Pitching Your Story to the News Media

No matter what size project you’ve undertaken, you may want to contact the

media. Here are some tips to consider when contacting the media:

■

Make sure you’re contacting the appropriate journalist by researching

their previous stories. A Google search can provide very useful

information on the media contact’s previous stories and sometimes

offers their direct contact information.

■

Figure out your “hook”—what you’re going to say to get them interested in

the story.

■

When speaking with the media use your hook to quickly tell the story.

Feel free to engage in conversation and make suggestions, but leave

them to decide how they want to use your information. Be able to

provide information that can help them write the story—press materials,

contact names and phone numbers, etc.

■

It is also essential to ask a media contact some or all of these questions:

• Are you currently on deadline? If so, ask when would be a better time

to contact them.

• Is “our story” something you would generally cover? If not, could you

suggest another contact within your organization who might be

interested?

• Do you have any related story deadlines coming up?

• Who makes the nal decision to cover a story?

• Do you have an editorial calendar?

• When would be a good time to follow up with you again?

■

If you haven’t received a response after a few days, following up via

email or phone is recommended.

Be prepared to take advantage of opportunities

afforded by the media, especially in post-event

situations, to present earthquake hazard infor-

mation and promote seismic safety programs

and risk reduction activities that will lessen the

affects of future earthquakes.

479 Source: FEMA.istockphoto.com http://wwwSource:

Following up with the media via phone or email

after the initial contact improves your chances

of getting coverage.

Page 9

Step 3: Take Action

12. Other Events to Celebrate Your Success

■

Press events at the site of an earthquake mitigation project.

■

Sponsoring a booth at a county or state fair. Hand out copies of your story

and other earthquake mitigation materials.

■

Adapt your story to a school-age audience—then tell the tale to a classroom

of children.

■

Partner with hardware or home improvement stores on a how-to workshop

of earthquake mitigation ideas.

■

Get an earthquake mitigation proclamation from local or state ofcials—use

your story with the proclamation to convey the message.

■

Launch a “Safe Business” campaign to encourage earthquake mitigation

action within business commu

nities.

■

Encourage re service agencies to incorporate earthquake mitigation into their

public-education campaigns.

■

Launch a community effort to preserve historical properties by using

earthquake mitigation measures.

■

Use your stories in conjunction with special campaigns or events—e.g.,

“Severe Weather Awareness Week,” “Fire Prevention Week,” “Safe Kids

Week,” etc.

For additional resources to help communicate your story and develop mitigation

best practices, visit Telling the Tale of Disaster Resistance: A Guide to Capturing and

Communicating the Story and Developing and Promoting Mitigation Best Practices

and Case Studies: Communication Strategy Toolkit.

The Los Angeles Fire Department attending a

QuakeSmart event in Encino, CA.

Photo by Justin Malko

Telling the Tale of Disaster Resistance: A Guide

to Capturing and Communicating the Story

provides some of the “best practices” of those

who have promoted disaster-resistance efforts

throughout the country.

Developing and Promoting Mitigation Best Prac-

tices and Case Studies: Communication Strategy

Toolkit shows how to communicate mitigation

ideas, expertise and resources to lessen the

impact of disasters, and show that mitigation is

both effective and affordable.

Page 10

Take Action Templates

TEMPLATE A: Sample Email or Memorandum to Employees

Dear Employees:

As you know, we work and live within an active seismic zone and earthquakes are a

potential threat to your safety at work, and at home. Therefore, we are launching a week-

long QuakeSmart awareness program, which will help you identify your risks, make a

plan, and take action. Each day, we will provide you with helpful tips on how to mitigate

hazards and how to better secure your home and its contents. At the end of this week,

we invite you to attend a ________ [name event] so that knowledgeable ofcials can

answer questions you may have.

For more information on earthquake mitigation or to download the QuakeSmart Toolkit

for Businesses, please visit: http://www.fema.gov/quakesmart.

Earthquakes can happen at any time. We [Company Name] care about the safety of you

and your family, and we hope you nd the QuakeSmart information helpful and benecial.

Sincerely,

[Company Ofcial]

Page 1

Take Action Templates

TEMPLATE B: Sample Press Release to Local Media

CONTACT: [Name]

[Title]

[Phone Number]

[Email]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[COMPANY NAME] LAUNCHES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE

EMPLOYEES TO BECOME ‘QUAKESMART’

(Date, Your City, State) – [Company Name] will be launching a week long QuakeSmart awareness program for its

employees starting _______ [date]. The campaign will encourage employees to identify their risks at home, make a

mitigation plan and then take action to reduce their risks to earthquake hazards.

The QuakeSmart program was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) around the

premise that no community can fully recover from a damaging earthquake until its businesses are back up and

running. Because businesses may not be prepared to resume operations following an earthquake, getting them to

mitigate for earthquake loss has become an economic priority. The program’s mission is to encourage at-risk busi-

nesses and their employees to become “QuakeSmart,” and maintain on-going earthquake hazard mitigation efforts

throughout the year.

During an earthquake, many casualties can be caused by falling objects and debris that are easily be secured using

simple, cost effective solutions. Examples of these mitigation activities include:

• Strapping bookcases and shelves to walls to prevent tipping;

• Knowing how and when to shut off utilities;

• Securing ceiling fans and hanging light xtures.

At the end of the week [Company Name] will be hosting a Lunch N’ Learn workshop for its employees, as well

as hosting an information fair that will involve ________ [name organizations/activities]. Media is encouraged to

attend. To schedule an interview, please contact ________ [Company Representative].

For more information on earthquake mitigation or to download the QuakeSmart Toolkit for Businesses, please

visit: http://www.fema.gov/quakesmart.

ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS:

[Add one paragraph describing your business and its accomplishments.] For more information about [Your Busi-

ness], please visit [your website].

# # #

Page 2

Take Action Templates

TEMPLATE C: Sample Talking Points

■

Based on the USGS seismic hazard map, our local community is located in an earthquake

risk area.

■

As you know, our community has suffered _______ major earthquakes in the past __ years.

■

Each major earthquake has cost our community _______of dollars in damages, injuries and

lost revenue.

■

[Insert language on how this business is specically committed to ensuring the safety of

their business operations, their employees, and customers by ___________ ].

■

To build a resilient community, all businesses need to share their best practices and

resources for earthquake mitigation.

■

Future earthquake damages can be reduced and potentially avoided by following the

QuakeSmart three-step process of earthquake mitigation:

o Identify your risk

o Make a plan

o Take action

■

For help with earthquake mitigation, visit FEMA.gov and download the QuakeSmart

earthquake mitigation toolkit for businesses.

Page 3

Take Action Templates

TEMPLATE D: Sample Press Release

CONTACT: [Name]

[Title]

[Phone Number]

[Email]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[COMPANY NAME] LAUNCHES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR

[COMMUNITY] TO BECOME ‘QUAKESMART’

(Date, Your City, State) – After completing an earthquake mitigation program, [Company Name] is initiating a week-

long QuakeSmart awareness program for all [local area/town/city] community businesses starting _______ [date]. The

campaign will encourage local businesses to identify their risks at home, make a mitigation plan and then take action to

reduce their risk to earthquake hazards.

The QuakeSmart program was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) around the premise

that no community can fully recover from a damaging earthquake until its businesses are back up and running. Because

businesses may not be prepared to resume operations following an earthquake, getting them to mitigate for earthquake

loss has become an economic priority. The program’s mission is to encourage at-risk businesses and their employees to

become “QuakeSmart,” and maintain on-going earthquake hazard mitigation efforts throughout the year.

During an earthquake, most injury and death is caused from falling objects and debris that can easily be secured using

simple, cost effective solutions. Examples of these mitigation activities include:

• Strapping le cabinets, bookcases and shelves to walls to prevent tipping.

• Knowing how and when to shut off utilities.

• Securing ceiling fans, hanging light xtures and computers.

At the end of the week [Company Name] will be hosting a Lunch ‘n Learn workshop for other local business owners, as

well as hosting an information fair that will involve [name organizations/activities]. Media is encouraged to attend. To

schedule an interview, please contact [company representative].

For more information on earthquake mitigation for businesses or homeowners, please visit: http://www.fema.gov/quakesmart.

ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS:

[Add one paragraph describing your business and its accomplishments.] For more information about [Your Business],

please visit [your website].

# # #

Page 4

Take Action Templates

TEMPLATE E: Sample Media Alert/Advisory for Broadcast Media

(For Large Event Only)

*****MEDIA ALERT*****

[Insert Business Name(s)] Host(s) Information Fair on Earthquake Mitigation for the Community

Local Businesses, Community Leaders and Citizens Encouraged to be ‘QuakeSmart’ at Educational Event

WHEN: [Insert day], [insert date], [insert time],

WHERE: [Insert location]

WHAT: [Insert eye-catching activities and sights, such as the following:]

  • Community and business leaders from [insert town(s)] demonstrating possible earthquake

damages and ways to mitigate their risk.

  • A variety of speakers including the Mayor, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Local Emergency

Manager, Geologist [insert name] and other disaster experts.

  • Over [insert number] school children participating in a variety of fun yet educational

activities related to earthquake mitigation.

INTERVIEW AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

[Insert spokespeople]

[Insert community/public leaders/local celebrity]

[Insert examples of active photo opportunities that will be available]

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

[Insert contact name, email, phone]

ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS:

One paragraph describing your business and its accomplishments. For more information

about [Your Business], please visit [your website].

Page 5

PAGE 1

The QuakeSmart Program

RAISING EARTHQUAKE MITIGATION AWARENESS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The QuakeSmart program is designed to encourage

business leaders and owners in areas of the U. S. that are

at risk from earthquakes to take actions that will mitigate

damage to their businesses, provide greater safety for

customers and employees, and speed recovery in the

event of an earthquake.

BACKGROUND

Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards

Reduction Program (NEHRP) with the passage of Earth-

quake Hazards Reduction Act in 1977. NEHRP brings

together four agencies: FEMA, the U. S. Geological Sur-

vey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and

the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST). NEHRP was established “to reduce the risks of

life and property from future earthquakes in the United

States through the establishment and maintenance of an

effective earthquake hazards reduction program.”

A key objective in the 2009 NEHRP Strategic plan is to

“Increase public awareness of earthquake hazards

and risk.” To meet this objective, FEMA supports and

conducts training and public awareness programs on

various mitigation topics throughout the U.S. In 2008,

FEMA introduced QuakeSmart, a unique outreach

program designed specifically for the business commu-

nity, particularly small and emerging businesses.

REACHING OUT TO BUSINESS COMMUNITIES

In the first phase of the QuakeSmart program, FEMA

orchestrated a series of four community forums that were

held in areas of the Nation most at risk from earthquakes.

The forums hosted by local Chambers of

Commerce and featured presentations by leading Na-

tional mitigation experts who addressed topics, including

improving earthquake safety, protecting building contents

and Business Continuity Planning. All presenters empha-

sized that no community can fully recover from a disaster

until its businesses have recovered.

Evansville, IN - Business leaders attend QuakeSmart forum

How can a Chamber of Commerce help

communicate the QuakeSmart message?

• By organizing a standing mitigation committee

made up of business owners, managers, area

emergency management professionals, and

Chamber Leadership.

• By using free communication networks: newslet-

ters, website headers, Chamber meetings, and

public service announcements to get the word out.

• By providing an informational section on the

Chamber website to expand knowledge on earth-

quake mitigation, and creating links on the website

to QuakeSmart.org

FEDERAL INSURANCE AND MITIGATION ADMINISTRATION

QuakeSmart Business Toolkit

Other FEMA Earthquake Publications

The following publications are intended to guide businesses during the earthquake mitigation process. Each title is

hyperlinked to its location on the FEMA website. All FEMA publications can be ordered from the FEMA Distribution Center

via phone (800-480-2520), fax (240-699-0525) or E-mail (FEMA-Publications-Warehouse@dhs.gov). Please provide the

title, item number and quantity of each publication, along with your name, address, zip code, and daytime telephone number

when ordering. FEMA publications can also be downloaded from the FEMA Library.

To see the full list of FEMA’s earthquake publications or for more information, please click on the following link:

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquake/pubindex.shtm.

FEMA Publications Title Item Number

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Design Guide for Improving School Safety in Earthquakes, Floods, and High Winds

FEMA 424

Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation of School Buildings (K-12) FEMA 395

RETAIL BUILDINGS

Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation of Retail Buildings

FEMA 399

Seismic Considerations for Steel Storage Racks Located in Areas Accessible to the Public

FEMA 460

HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation of Hospital Buildings

FEMA 396

Design Guide for Improving Hospital Safety in Earthquakes, Floods, and High Winds

FEMA 577

HOTEL/MOTEL BUILDINGS

Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation of Hotel/Motel Buildings

FEMA 400

MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT BUILDINGS

Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation of Multifamily Apartment Buildings

FEMA 398

OFFICE BUILDINGS

Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation of Ofce Buildings

FEMA 397

Page 1

Other FEMA Earthquake Publications

FEMA Publications Title Item Number

ALL BUILDINGS

Catalog of FEMA Earthquake Resources

FEMA P-736A

Earthquake-Resistant Design Concepts: An Introduction to the NEHRP Recommended Seismic

Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures

FEMA P-749

Communicating with Owners and Managers of New Buildings on Earthquake Risk: A Primer for

Design Professionals

FEMA 389

Creating a Seismic Safety Advisory Board: A Guide to Earthquake Risk Management

FEMA 266

Homebuilders' Guide to Earthquake-Resistant Design and Construction

FEMA 232

Installing Seismic Restraints for Duct and Pipe

FEMA 414

Installing Seismic Restraints for Electrical Equipment

FEMA 413

Installing Seismic Restraints for Mechanical Equipment

FEMA 412

Planning for Seismic Rehabilitation: Societal Issues

FEMA 275

Promoting Seismic Safety: Guidance for Advocates

FEMA 474

Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards: A Handbook. Second Edition

FEMA 154

Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage: A Practical Guide. Third

Edition

FEMA E-74

Seismic Considerations for Communities at Risk

FEMA 83

Unreinforced Masonry Buildings and Earthquakes: Developing Successful Risk

Reduction Programs

FEMA P-774

Page 2

PAGE 1

FEDERAL INSURANCE AND MITIGATION ADMINISTRATION

QuakeSmart Business Toolkit

The QuakeSmart Program

RAISING EARTHQUAKE MITIGATION AWARENESS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The QuakeSmart program is designed to encourage

business leaders and owners in areas of the U. S. that are

at risk from earthquakes to take actions that will mitigate

damage to their businesses, provide greater safety for

customers and employees, and speed recovery in the

event of an earthquake.

BACKGROUND

Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards

Reduction Program (NEHRP) with the passage of Earth-

quake Hazards Reduction Act in 1977. NEHRP brings

together four agencies: FEMA, the U. S. Geological Sur-

vey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and

the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST). NEHRP was established “to reduce the risks of

life and property from future earthquakes in the United

States through the establishment and maintenance of an

effective earthquake hazards reduction program.”

A key objective in the 2009 NEHRP Strategic plan is to

“Increase public awareness of earthquake hazards

and risk.” To meet this objective, FEMA supports and

conducts training and public awareness programs on

various mitigation topics throughout the U.S. In 2008,

FEMA introduced QuakeSmart, a unique outreach

program designed specifically for the business commu-

nity, particularly small and emerging businesses.

REACHING OUT TO BUSINESS COMMUNITIES

In the first phase of the QuakeSmart program, FEMA

orchestrated a series of four community forums that were

held in areas of the Nation most at risk from earthquakes.

The forums hosted by local Chambers of

Commerce and featured presentations by leading Na-

tional mitigation experts who addressed topics, including

improving earthquake safety, protecting building contents

and Business Continuity Planning. All presenters empha-

sized that no community can fully recover from a disaster

until its businesses have recovered.

Evansville, IN - Business leaders attend QuakeSmart forum

How can a Chamber of Commerce help

communicate the QuakeSmart message?

• By organizing a standing mitigation committee

made up of business owners, managers, area

emergency management professionals, and

Chamber Leadership.

• By using free communication networks: newslet-

ters, website headers, Chamber meetings, and

public service announcements to get the word out.

• By providing an informational section on the

Chamber website to expand knowledge on earth-

quake mitigation, and creating links on the website

to QuakeSmart.org

Recommended FEMA Earthquake Mitigation Training

Course: Earthquake Basics — Science, Risk, and Mitigation

http://training.fema.gov/EMI/ - Type the course title in the search bar on the top right of the page.

This 30 minute independent study course presents basic information on earthquake science, risk, and mitigation. It also

discusses techniques for structural and non-structural earthquake mitigation. Earthquake Basics is targeted to a wide range

of audiences, including homeowners, business owners, the private sector, federal, state, tribal and local government

workforce at all levels, first responders, non-profit organizations, volunteers, and community-based organizations. A

FEMA certificate will be given to those who successfully complete the post course test. This training resides on the

FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) website.

Course: Train-the

-Trainer — Home and Business Earthquake Safety Training

http://www.fema.gov/earthquake-training/national-earthquake-technical-assistance-program

This is an in-person training program for structural and nonstructural earthquake mitigation. The intended audience for

the end result training is non-technical, including homeowners and business owners. For the Train the Trainer delivery, the

audience is emergency managers, rst responders, or others who are interested in leading a presentation on this topic. It is

assumed that the trainers will be somewhat knowledgeable about earthquake safety, but they may or may not have led

presentations on the subject previously.

The format for the Train the Trainer (TTT) will be in-person live training. A 45-minute live seminar will be held to train

people how to deliver this training to others in the future. The rst 10-15 minutes of the session will be dedicated to teaching

people how to organize, plan, recruit, and deliver a training seminar. Handout slides will be provided for future reference.

The next 30 minutes of the session will be a delivery of the actual presentation. This will allow the future trainers to see

the live session and understand rst-hand how the delivery should be conducted. A Q&A session (5 – 10 minutes) will be

included at the end of the training. A quiz (with answers) is also incorporated so that the trainers are judged on their

basic knowledge of the material prior to delivering the end result training.

The end result training will be delivered by people who have attended the TTT session. A full PowerPoint slide presentation

with basic speaker notes will be provided for the trainers. The end result training will be 30 minutes, and it is intended to

be in-person, live training. Since the audience will be non-technical lay people who are attending out of a general desire to

learn (rather than having a specic need or requirement for attending), this training will be interactive, visually engaging,

and useful. This training might be similar to learning/training seminars delivered by The Home Depot and other retailers

that provide basic knowledge to interested home and business owners. The intent is that the seminar attendees will become

more knowledgeable and will take steps toward earthquake mitigation in their homes and small businesses.

Other Potential Training for Businesses

Through partnership with local and State government and organizations, businesses may be able to request directly

and/or indirectly for earthquake mitigation training via the National Earthquake Technical Assistance Program. For more

information, visit: http://www.fema.gov/national-earthquake-hazards-reduction-program.

For a complete listing of FEMA earthquake-related training visit page 23 of the FEMA P-736 Catalog of FEMA

Earthquake Resources at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3538.

Page 1

PAGE 1

FEDERAL INSURANCE AND MITIGATION ADMINISTRATION

QuakeSmart Business Toolkit

The QuakeSmart Program

RAISING EARTHQUAKE MITIGATION AWARENESS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The QuakeSmart program is designed to encourage

business leaders and owners in areas of the U. S. that are

at risk from earthquakes to take actions that will mitigate

damage to their businesses, provide greater safety for

customers and employees, and speed recovery in the

event of an earthquake.

BACKGROUND

Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards

Reduction Program (NEHRP) with the passage of Earth-

quake Hazards Reduction Act in 1977. NEHRP brings

together four agencies: FEMA, the U. S. Geological Sur-

vey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and

the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST). NEHRP was established “to reduce the risks of

life and property from future earthquakes in the United

States through the establishment and maintenance of an

effective earthquake hazards reduction program.”

A key objective in the 2009 NEHRP Strategic plan is to

“Increase public awareness of earthquake hazards

and risk.” To meet this objective, FEMA supports and

conducts training and public awareness programs on

various mitigation topics throughout the U.S. In 2008,

FEMA introduced QuakeSmart, a unique outreach

program designed specifically for the business commu-

nity, particularly small and emerging businesses.

REACHING OUT TO BUSINESS COMMUNITIES

In the first phase of the QuakeSmart program, FEMA

orchestrated a series of four community forums that were

held in areas of the Nation most at risk from earthquakes.

The forums hosted by local Chambers of

Commerce and featured presentations by leading Na-

tional mitigation experts who addressed topics, including

improving earthquake safety, protecting building contents

and Business Continuity Planning. All presenters empha-

sized that no community can fully recover from a disaster

until its businesses have recovered.

Evansville, IN - Business leaders attend QuakeSmart forum

How can a Chamber of Commerce help

communicate the QuakeSmart message?

• By organizing a standing mitigation committee

made up of business owners, managers, area

emergency management professionals, and

Chamber Leadership.

• By using free communication networks: newslet-

ters, website headers, Chamber meetings, and

public service announcements to get the word out.

• By providing an informational section on the

Chamber website to expand knowledge on earth-

quake mitigation, and creating links on the website

to QuakeSmart.org

VValuable Waluable Websites and Other Resourcesebsites and Other Resources

FEMA Resources

FEMA Earthquake Information/QuakeSmart Toolkit

http://www.fema.gov/earthquake-publications/quakesmart-toolkit-table-contents

http://www.fema.gov/quakesmart

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

http://www.fema.gov/national-earthquake-hazards-reduction-program

http://www.nehrp.gov

Ready.gov Business

http://www.ready.gov/business

Mitigation Best Practices Search

http://www.fema.gov/mitigationbp/index.jsp

Index of Earthquake Publications

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquake/pubindex.shtm

Earthquake Publications for Individuals and Homeowners

http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3551

FEMA Library

http://www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp

The FEMA Library is a searchable web-based collection of all publicly accessible FEMA information resources,

including: CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, audio tapes, disability resources, posters and display items, brochures, publications,

guidance and policy papers, program regulations and guidelines, forms, slide presentations, and some documents.

Relevant Emergency Management Links for Businesses

State/Local Emergency Management Agency Contact Information

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/earthquake/state_contacts.shtm

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)

http://www.nemaweb.org

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

http://www.uschamber.com

Page 1

Valuable Websites and Other Resources

Other Technical and Earthquake Resources

Applied Technology Council

Mid-America Earthquake Center

http://atcouncil.org

http://mae.cee.illlinois.edu

Building Seismic Safety Council

National Council of Structural Engineers Associations

http://www.nibs.org/index.php/bssc

http://www.ncsea.com

California Emergency Management Agency

Northeast States Emergency Consortium

http://www.oes.ca.gov

http://www.nesec.org

California Earthquake Country Alliance

Pacic Earthquake Engineering Research Center

http://earthquakecountry.info/alliance

http://peer.berkeley.edu

California Institute of Technology Earthquake Research

ShakeOut.org

Afliates

http://www.shakeout.org

http://www.caltech-era.org

Structural Engineers Association of California

Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW)

http://www.seaoc.org

http://crew.org

Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC)

Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC)

http://www.scec.org

http://cusec.org

University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

and Information

http://www.eeri.org

http://www.ceri.memphis.edu

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

http://www.ash.org

http://earthquake.usgs.gov

Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)

Western States Seismic Policy Council

http://www.disastersafety.org

http://www.wsspc.org

MCEER

http://mceer.buffalo.edu

Page 2

PAGE 1

FEDERAL INSURANCE AND MITIGATION ADMINISTRATION

QuakeSmart Business Toolkit

The QuakeSmart Program

RAISING EARTHQUAKE MITIGATION AWARENESS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The QuakeSmart program is designed to encourage

business leaders and owners in areas of the U. S. that are

at risk from earthquakes to take actions that will mitigate

damage to their businesses, provide greater safety for

customers and employees, and speed recovery in the

event of an earthquake.

BACKGROUND

Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards

Reduction Program (NEHRP) with the passage of Earth-

quake Hazards Reduction Act in 1977. NEHRP brings

together four agencies: FEMA, the U. S. Geological Sur-

vey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and

the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST). NEHRP was established “to reduce the risks of

life and property from future earthquakes in the United

States through the establishment and maintenance of an

effective earthquake hazards reduction program.”

A key objective in the 2009 NEHRP Strategic plan is to

“Increase public awareness of earthquake hazards

and risk.” To meet this objective, FEMA supports and

conducts training and public awareness programs on

various mitigation topics throughout the U.S. In 2008,

FEMA introduced QuakeSmart, a unique outreach

program designed specifically for the business commu-

nity, particularly small and emerging businesses.

REACHING OUT TO BUSINESS COMMUNITIES

In the first phase of the QuakeSmart program, FEMA

orchestrated a series of four community forums that were

held in areas of the Nation most at risk from earthquakes.

The forums hosted by local Chambers of

Commerce and featured presentations by leading Na-

tional mitigation experts who addressed topics, including

improving earthquake safety, protecting building contents

and Business Continuity Planning. All presenters empha-

sized that no community can fully recover from a disaster

until its businesses have recovered.

Evansville, IN - Business leaders attend QuakeSmart forum

How can a Chamber of Commerce help

communicate the QuakeSmart message?

• By organizing a standing mitigation committee

made up of business owners, managers, area

emergency management professionals, and

Chamber Leadership.

• By using free communication networks: newslet-

ters, website headers, Chamber meetings, and

public service announcements to get the word out.

• By providing an informational section on the

Chamber website to expand knowledge on earth-

quake mitigation, and creating links on the website

to QuakeSmart.org

Reviewers and Contributors

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Ed Laatsch, Building Science Branch/NEHRP Chief

Mike Mahoney, NEHRP, Geophysicist

Claudette Fetterman, NEHRP, Senior Program Specialist

Wendy Phillips, NEHRP, Senior Program Specialist

Sue Evers, NEHRP, Region VII

Jennifer Lynette, NEHRP, Region IX

Tamra Biasco, NEHRP, Region X

David Javier, Mitigation Outreach & Communication Section, Program Specialist

Ebony Turner, Private Sector Ofce, Program Specialist

John Mohan, FIMA External Affairs Liaison

FEMA Contract Support

Tom McLane, Applied Technology Council, Director of Business Development

Lindsey Athanitis, Outreach Process Partners, Vice President

Darin Tambascio, Outreach Process Partners, Outreach Manager

Non-Prot and Private Sector Organizations

Ed Fratto, Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NSEC), Executive Director

NESEC is a 501(c) (3) not for prot all-hazards emergency management organization, located in Wakeeld, Massachusetts. Established in 1991, NESEC

is the only all-hazard state consortium in the nation lead exclusively by State Directors of Emergency Management and is supported and funded by DHS/

FEMA. The organization develops, promotes, and coordinates comprehensive “all-hazards” emergency management activities throughout the Northeast

and partners with federal, state and local governments, and private organizations to reduce losses of life and property when the next disaster strikes the

Northeast.

Jim Wilkinson, Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), Executive Director

CUSEC’s mission is to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage and economic losses resulting from earthquakes in the Central U.S. The organization’s

primary objective is to serve as the “coordinating hub” for the region and provide dynamic support to multi-state response and recovery planning, resource

acquisition; public education and awareness; promotion; mitigation, and research associated with earthquake preparedness. CUSEC Member States are

those most vulnerable to the effects of earthquakes in the region and include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and

Tennessee.

Cale Ash, Vice President, Tim Walsh, Treasurer, Cascadia Regional Earthquake Work Group

CREW is a coalition of private and public representatives working together to improve the ability of communities throughout the Cascadia Region to

reduce the effects of earthquakes and related hazards, such as tsunami.

Page 1

Reviewers and Contributors

Zoe Boyer, Project Manager, Leslie Chapman-Henderson, President/CEO, Trenise Lyons, Project Manager, Bruce

McCullen, Small Business Owner, Aveda Salons and FLASH Partner, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

FLASH is a non-prot, 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to promoting disaster safety and property loss mitigation. They represent and partner with

like-minded organizations from the public, private and non-prot sector; to demonstrate leadership through creation of useful and reliable disaster

safety education programs; and to sponsor ongoing outreach initiatives to encourage citizens to build, buy and use buildings that are constructed or

retrotted with disaster safety in mind.

Debra Ballen, General Counsel and Senior Vice President for Public Policy, Candace Iskowitz, Director of Public Affairs,

Diana McClure, Business Resiliency Manager, Brenda O’Connor, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Institute

for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)

IBHS’ mission to conduct objective, scientic research to identify and promote effective actions that strengthen homes, businesses, and communities

against natural disasters and other causes of loss. Its members are insurers and reinsurers that conduct business in the United States or reinsure risks

located in the United States. Afliate membership is open to brokers, managing general agents and independent agents. Associate membership is open

to all others who support our mission.

Patti Sutch, Western Seismic State Policy Council (WSSPC), Executive Director

WSSPC is a regional earthquake consortium in the western states organized as a 501(c) (3) non-prot organization and is funded by DHS/FEMA and the

U.S. Geological Survey. Headquartered in Sacramento, California, members are the State Geological Survey and Emergency Management Directors of 13

western states, 3 U.S. territories, a Canadian territory and a Canadian province, and liaisons to 7 western state seismic safety councils and commissions.

Doug Selby, Big Lots, CFI, Store Safety and District Loss Prevention Manager

From everyday consumables and housewares to toys and seasonal goods, Big Lots offers amazing values that other stores just can’t match. As the

nation’s largest broadline closeout retailer, we have the buying power to nd and negotiate the best deals in the business.

Ines Pearce, Pearce Global Partners Inc. (PGP), Chief Executive *

PGP is a premier rm providing government, businesses, and communities with comprehensive planning, training, and education to help reduce

the potential for devastating loss of life and property resulting from natural and human-caused disasters. PGP specializes in public-private

partnerships (PPP) and our approach is all-hazards.

Kate Long, California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), Earthquake and Tsunami Program Deputy *

Cal EMA is responsible for the coordination of overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The Agency is

responsible for assuring the state’s readiness to respond to and recover from all hazards – natural, manmade, war-caused emergencies and disasters –

and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation efforts.

Chris Wright, Amgen Inc., Senior Manager of Worldwide Crisis Management*

Amgen is a leading human therapeutics company in the biotechnology industry. For more than 25 years, the company has tapped the power of scientic

discovery and innovation to advance the practice of medicine. Amgen pioneered the development of novel products based on advances in recombinant

DNA and molecular biology and launched the biotechnology industry’s rst blockbuster medicines. Today, as a Fortune 500 company serving millions

of patients, Amgen continues to be an entrepreneurial, science driven enterprise dedicated to helping people ght serious illness.

Julie H. Davenport II, Wells Fargo Enterprise Incident Management, CHS III, AVP, Regional Emergency Manager,

Southern California *

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversied nancial services company providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and

commercial nance through more than 9,000 stores and 12,000 ATMs and the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com) across North America and

internationally.

Gerald Shamburg, The Walt Disney Company Manager, West Coast Operations, Global Crisis Management *

Since its founding in 1923, The Walt Disney Company and its afliated companies have remained faithful to their commitment to produce unparalleled

entertainment experiences based on the rich legacy of quality creative content and exceptional storytelling. The Walt Disney Company, together with its

s u b s i d ia r ie s a n d a f  l i a t e s , i s a l e a d i ng d i ve r s i  e d i n t e r n a t io n a l f a m i l y e n t e r t a i n me n t a n d me d i a e n t e r p r i s e w it h fo u r b u s i n e s s s e g m e n t s: m e d ia n e t wo r k s ,

parks and resorts, studio entertainment and consumer products.

Page 2

Reviewers and Contributors

Ryan Walker, Disaster Resistant Business Toolkit Workgroup (DRB Toolkit), Vice President *

The Disaster Resistant Business Toolkit Workgroup (DRBTW) has been a 501(c)(3) non-prot since 2007, although we began as a public-private

partnership in 2002. The DRBTW consists of Business Continuity, Emergency Management, planning and training experts from government and all-sized

companies who collaborated to develop this software tool that

would assist small to midsize businesses build their own disaster p

lans

Margaret Vinci, Caltech, Manager, Ofce of Earthquake Programs *

The mission of the California Institute of Technology is to expand human knowledge and benet society through research integrated with education.

We investigate the most challenging, fundamental problems in science and technology in a singularly collegial, interdisciplinary atmosphere, while

educating outstanding students to become creative members of society.

Victoria Craig, Consortium of Business Continuity Professionals, Inc., Executive Vice President *

The foundation of the Consortium of Business Continuity Professionals, Inc. is based on the needs of organizations that have put business continuity

plans into place but are grappling with how to best integrate the management of those plans with the ongoing objectives of their businesses.

Phyllis Walker, ARM, AInstIB, Risk Management Consultant *

Monica Buchanan, State Farm Insurance, Claims Section Manager *

All contacts with an asterisk (*) are members of the ECA Business Committee:

ECA is a California statewide “alliance of alliances” linking the public information efforts of organizations and individuals that provide earthquake

information and services. Participants include the Redwood Coast Tsunami Workgroup, the Bay Area Earthquake Alliance, the Central Coast Earthquake

Alliance, and the Southern California Earthquake Alliance (new name of the original “ECA”). Other regional alliances may join the ECA in the future

representing other parts of the state. ECA members include: scientists and engineers; non-prot organization and business leaders; community groups

and activists; federal, state, and local government leaders and agencies; tribes; and others who share a passion for making a difference towards reducing

California’s earthquake risk.

Page 3

PAGE 1

FEDERAL INSURANCE AND MITIGATION ADMINISTRATION

QuakeSmart Business Toolkit

The QuakeSmart Program

RAISING EARTHQUAKE MITIGATION AWARENESS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The QuakeSmart program is designed to encourage

business leaders and owners in areas of the U. S. that are

at risk from earthquakes to take actions that will mitigate

damage to their businesses, provide greater safety for

customers and employees, and speed recovery in the

event of an earthquake.

BACKGROUND

Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards

Reduction Program (NEHRP) with the passage of Earth-

quake Hazards Reduction Act in 1977. NEHRP brings

together four agencies: FEMA, the U. S. Geological Sur-

vey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and

the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST). NEHRP was established “to reduce the risks of

life and property from future earthquakes in the United

States through the establishment and maintenance of an

effective earthquake hazards reduction program.”

A key objective in the 2009 NEHRP Strategic plan is to

“Increase public awareness of earthquake hazards

and risk.” To meet this objective, FEMA supports and

conducts training and public awareness programs on

various mitigation topics throughout the U.S. In 2008,

FEMA introduced QuakeSmart, a unique outreach

program designed specifically for the business commu-

nity, particularly small and emerging businesses.

REACHING OUT TO BUSINESS COMMUNITIES

In the first phase of the QuakeSmart program, FEMA

orchestrated a series of four community forums that were

held in areas of the Nation most at risk from earthquakes.

The forums hosted by local Chambers of

Commerce and featured presentations by leading Na-

tional mitigation experts who addressed topics, including

improving earthquake safety, protecting building contents

and Business Continuity Planning. All presenters empha-

sized that no community can fully recover from a disaster

until its businesses have recovered.

Evansville, IN - Business leaders attend QuakeSmart forum

How can a Chamber of Commerce help

communicate the QuakeSmart message?

• By organizing a standing mitigation committee

made up of business owners, managers, area

emergency management professionals, and

Chamber Leadership.

• By using free communication networks: newslet-

ters, website headers, Chamber meetings, and

public service announcements to get the word out.

• By providing an informational section on the

Chamber website to expand knowledge on earth-

quake mitigation, and creating links on the website

to QuakeSmart.org

Comment Form

To submit the completed comment form, please click the button at the bottom of this document.

Additional questions and/or comments can be emailed to fema-nehrp@dhs.gov.

1) Please tell us about yourself (your name, title, business, type and place of business, optional contact information).

2) How did you hear about the QuakeSmart Toolkit?

☐ FEMA website ☐ News Coverage (list outlets below)

☐ At a local QuakeSmart event

☐ At an earthquake conference

☐

Through Chamber of Commerce

☐

Other business leaders

☐ Employees/Co-Workers

3) Please rate how familiar were you with the concept of earthquake mitigation (5 being the most familiar).

☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐

4) Which document(s) did you nd most useful/helpful?

☐ How Earthquakes Affect Businesses ☐ Step 2: Make a Plan ☐ Other FEMA Earthquake Mitigation

☐ How QuakeSmart Can Help ☐ Step 3: Take Action Publications

☐ Step 1: Identify Your Risk ☐ Take Action Templates ☐ Recommended FEMA Earthquake

5) Please provide us with any comments or recommendations on how to improve the QuakeSmart Toolkit, or if you

have any questions about the toolkit contents.

Page 1

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