Media Advisory: Experts Gather in Advance of National Earthquake Drill

[USGS Newsroom <oc_web@xxxxxxxx>]

Title: USGS Newsroom

Media Advisory: Experts Gather in Advance of National Earthquake Drill

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Media Advisory: Experts Gather in Advance of National Earthquake Drill

Posted: 09 Oct 2014 05:53 AM PDT

Summary: A press conference will be held on October 14, 2014 in recognition of the upcoming International ShakeOut Day of Action

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Media Invited to Interview Top Government Officials

Contact Information:

Brian Blake ( Phone: 901-340-8885 ); Jessica Robertson ( Phone: 703-648-6624 );

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WASHINGTON, D.C.— A press conference will be held on October 14, 2014 in recognition of the upcoming International ShakeOut Day of Action. On October 16, nearly 24 million people (2 million in the SouthEast region) are expected to participate in the world’s largest earthquake drill. To mark the occasion and build awareness, several state and federal organizations have partnered to call the public to action and prepare for the drill.

WHAT

Media are invited to attend a ShakeOut press conference and interview executive level state and federal government officials, meet students who experienced the 2011 Virginia earthquake, shoot footage of a live seismometer and earthquake drill demonstration, and film the “Designing for Disaster” exhibit at the National Building Museum. Main topics include:

• The Great ShakeOut earthquake drills, occurring throughout the nation on October 16
• New earthquake research and monitoring activities in D.C. and the eastern United States
• Lasting effects of Virginia's magnitude 5.8 earthquake in August 2011, felt by nearly one third of the U.S. population
• Current state and federal government activities that are improving disaster preparedness and resiliency

WHERE

National Building Museum

401 F Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20001

WHEN

• October 14, 2014 
• 9:45AM EDT: Media Arrival
• 10:00AM to 10:30AM EDT: Press Conference
• 10:30AM to Noon EDT: Interviews, Demonstrations, and Tours

WHO

• Suzette Kimball, Director, U.S. Geological Survey
• Craig Fugate, Administrator, FEMA
• Chase W. Rynd, Executive Director, National Building Museum
• Doug Straley, Assistant Superintendent of Administration, Louisa County Public Schools (VA)
• Brian Baker, Chief of Staff, District of Columbia Homeland Security and EMA
• Mark Benthien, Global Coordinator, Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills, Southern California Earthquake Center
• Jim Wilkinson, Executive Director, Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium

RSVP

Media are encouraged to RSVP to Brian Blake at bblake@xxxxxxxxx. Press packets will be available. Interviews and one-on-one filming will be allowed following the press conference.