Quake awareness seminar draws more than 100 people

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Everyone seemed to learn something at an earthquake awareness seminar hosted by Perry County's emergency management action committee Friday.

"I thought the soft sand around the [Mississippi River] would withstand the shaking better than rock," said Perry County Presiding Commissioner Carl Leuckel.

Caves are among the safest places during an earthquake, according to David Rogers, Missouri University of Science and Technology chairman of geological engineering. Rogers, Sue Evers, a FEMA mitigation specialist, and Steve Besemer, earthquake program manager for the State Emergency Management Agency, spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people from Perry, Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Ste. Genevieve counties in Missouri and Randolph County in Illinois.

"Since we had people coming from pretty far away, we opened it up to everyone -- officials and members of the public," said Sandy Koenig, who organized the seminar with Perry County Health Department co-worker Barb Miller.

Dewayne Hahn, branch manager for Allied Home Mortgage in Perryville, said he attended for business and personal reasons.

"I believe we're responsible for ourselves, our families and our neighbors," he said. "People are probably in a state of denial, as business owners or individuals. You want to be prepared. Worry is not part of the program."

Perry County Assessor Larry White said the seminar was "eye-opening" and that he planned to check his home generator and begin keeping at least seven days' worth of food and water at home.

Frank Wideman, regional engineer for the Southeast Missouri Extension office and "unofficial leader of the Extension's emergency response team," announced a community emergency response team class tailored to teens set for April 3 through 5. The $100 fee pays for 20 hours of training. Scholarships are available for children of military families; call 573-547-4504 for details.

"Having confidence in the preparedness of the community is paramount to survival," Wideman said.

Leuckel said one of his priorities this year will be identifying which buildings could potentially serve as shelters, in the event of any disaster.

To learn more about disaster readiness, visit www.quakesmart.org.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

388-3646