Tag: Preparedness

New Podcasts Reveal Local Earthquake Hazard and Ways to Strengthen Your Home

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CREW’s three latest Ready to Recover podcast episodes feature:

  • Tools that people can use to discover the earthquake hazard where they live.
  • Discussion of what people can do to make their homes safer and more resilient.

The first podcast in this three-part set, episode 8, was released earlier this spring. In it, geologists Corina Allen, Adam Hiscock, and Jeri Young Ben-Horin discuss state geologic portals, what the portals can reveal, and how they can be used by the public to learn about the geologic hazards where they live.

Episode 9 presents seismic design category maps for International Residential Code and outlines how to use them to find the earthquake hazard at a given address. Dr. Mike Tong, a senior physical scientist at FEMA, and Kelly Cobeen, a civil and structural engineer, explain what seismic design categories are, how to find your category, and what you can learn from it. Included in the show notes is a link to a basic instruction page to help people find and interpret their seismic design category: What’s the Earthquake Hazard at Your Address?

In podcast episode 10, structural engineer Dan Sloat explains what earthquake shaking could do to a house or building, how people can discover their building’s vulnerabilities, and what can be done to reduce or prevent the damage.

The podcast recordings – along with transcripts, speakers’ bios, and show notes – are available on the Ready to Recover site (podcasts.crew.org) and through these podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music (just search for “Ready to Recover CREW”).

These podcasts are appropriate for a general audience and can be circulated as part of public education efforts to raise awareness about earthquakes and related hazards.

The Ready to Recover podcast series was produced with funding from FEMA through the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.

New Tools to Raise Awareness About Earthquake Risk & Preparedness

Business owner hanging an "open" sign the door of a shop. Insure Against Earthquakes logo and "Standard business insurance won't cover earthquake losses. Protect your business." Three text bubbles: "Make a business continuity plan." "Ask your agent how to add earthquake coverage." "Consider buying business interruption insurance."

CREW is pleased to share three new outreach & education tools to help you raise awareness about earthquakes & preparedness. The new materials are available in English and Spanish:

First — Two new social media graphics that encourage preparedness: one features small business preparedness; the other home preparedness.

House with cracked and fallen plaster and masonry. "I Own a House in Earthquake Country. What kind of damage could an earthquake do? And how expensive will it be to repair?"

Second — A brochure (print and digital versions) about common kinds of earthquake damage to homes, likely costs, and retrofit options.

Third — A print-ready “Recovery Plan” poster and postcard featuring QR-codes that lead to further information and resources. The poster/postcard can be displayed or distributed at preparedness fairs and other in-person events. (To request a customized set with your agency’s logo and a QR code leading to your preparedness webpage, email us at IAEQproject@crew.org.)

Two people having a conversation while seated at a table. Background: stylized sketch of a house in an earthquake. Captions: What's Your Recovery Plan? Actions you take today can help you get back on your feet after an earthquake.

These and other outreach materials can be found in the Featured Outreach Products section of CREW’s Insure Against Earthquakes educators’ site. The site and the new tools were produced with funding from FEMA through the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.

June 28 is National Insurance Awareness Day — This is a good opportunity to use the graphics to launch a social media message encouraging people to ask an agent about earthquake insurance and consider ways to mitigate.