SEMA Continues Gov. Blunt’s
Push to Stress Statewide Preparedness
CAPE GIRARDEAU, December 1, 2005-The State Emergency
Management Agency (SEMA) has just concluded a three-day earthquake
preparedness event in Southeast Missouri.
Gov. Matt Blunt recently directed state agencies to
work with local governments in the New Madrid region to develop a
coordinated plan to deal with a possible natural disaster of that
magnitude to help avoid problems that occurred in the wake of Hurricanes
Rita and Katrina.
“We will continue our aggressive push to ensure
statewide preparedness is a top priority for state government,”
Blunt said. “The recent activities in Southeast Missouri demonstrate
that state leaders are taking great strides to ensure coordinated
efforts between local, state, and federal officials are being met.”
Southeast local officials and first responders have
been participating in intense training sessions on preparing for an
earthquake on the New Madrid Fault Line. SEMA’s Director Ron
Reynolds participated in a roundtable discussion today with U.S Rep.
Jo Ann Emerson, Sen. Jason Crowell and other state leaders, concerning
upcoming national exercises Missouri will play a part in.
Missouri and eight sister states with an earthquake
risk will be participating in a national earthquake exercise on the
Mississippi River in June 2007. The 2007 Spills of National Significance
exercise will include the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Environment Protection
Agency (EPA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).