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

Media Invited to Interview Top Government Officials

Contact Information:

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

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@cusec.org. Press packets will be available. Interviews and one-on-one filming will be allowed following the press conference.