Federal Alliance for Safe Homes® Joins Experts at Earthquake Forum

Free Public Forum Coincides with Global "Great ShakeOut" Preparedness Drill

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is joining local, national and international experts for a free earthquake resiliency forum on Thursday, October 17 at the University of Memphis.  The Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium, Center for Earthquake Research and Information, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FLASH and others are presenting the forum in conjunction with the Great Shakeout– a global earthquake safety and preparedness drill.  Of more than 18 million registered worldwide, 2.3 million residents in Tennessee, Arkansas and surrounding regions will participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.

"Earthquakes leave us with no time to prepare, which is why it is so important to get ready now," said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson.  "Last year's 3.9 magnitude Parkin earthquake just thirty miles from Memphis is a stark reminder that the risk to this region is real."

Forum presentations will include:

• Life safety and economic impacts on families, businesses and communities
• Lessons learned from Christchurch, New Zealand where the threat profile is similar to Memphis
• Building codes, building practices and community planning tools available to reduce losses

FLASH will join the "Building a Resilient Memphis" panel to discuss the role modern, model codes play in creating resilient communities.   Following the public forum, participants will have the opportunity to view exhibits from participating organizations.  FLASH will be providing free consumer and business resources, including FEMA's QuakeSmart Toolkit for Small Business which provides structural and nonstructural mitigation information; Earthquake:  Protect Your Home, Prepare Your Home, Protect Your Contents printed FLASH Cards and the new Earthquake: Protect Your Contents, Secure Your Space animation.

WHAT:      Free Public Forum on Building Resiliency in the Face of Earthquake Risk
WHO:        Citizens, business leaders, public officials, news media
WHEN:      Thursday, October 17, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. CDT http://www.shakeout.org/ 
WHERE:    Michael D. Rose Theater and Lecture Hall, University of Memphis main campus. 

Visit www.cusec.org for more information about the Forum and visit www.flash.org for free earthquake safety and mitigation resources.

About FLASH
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)®, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH collaborates with more than 100 innovative and diverse partners that share its vision of making America a more disaster‐resistant nation including: BASF, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot®, International Code Council, Kohler® Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, RenaissanceRe, Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm™, USAA® and WeatherPredict Consulting Inc. In 2008, FLASH opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and gain access to its free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org or calling (877) 221- SAFE (7233). Also, get timely safety tips to ensure that you and your family are protected from natural and manmade disasters by subscribing to the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)