Conference Vision
Provide a regional forum for the presentation, exchange of ideas, and potential solutions involved with preparing for a significant central U.S. earthquake. The conference will open communication with academia, government, non-government agencies and the private sectors to address the current and forecasted needs of the response and recovery community.

Conference Objective
To facilitate relevant science in preparation for a significant Central U.S. earthquake similar to the events of 1811-12, the U.S. Geological Survey, Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center, the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and the Geology and Land Survey Division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources are hosting this three-day conference that will bring together academia, government, non-government agencies and the private sectors to address the current and forecasted needs of the response and recovery community.

Conference Overview

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - Training Opportunities

• Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation Training
• Community Disaster Response Training
• Using Civil Support Teams (CSTs) For Seismic Event Responses

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
During day one, the conference will specifically address the following topics related to a significant seismic event occurring within the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic zones:

• Consequences of a major earthquake
• Timing, reoccurrence and probability of the next major event
• Engineering effects and stresses
• Socioeconomic impacts
• Mitigation plans for transportation and infrastructure
• Geological and structural monitoring
• Geologic mapping activities

Thursday, August 14, 2008
Day two will be divided into two tracks to facilitate discussion and input into the needs of the response and recovery community. Presentations will focus on federal and state agency mapping activities; and the lessons learned from natural disaster exercises. Both sessions will have a facilitated panel discussion to develop a list of challenges to response and recovery operations that can be supported through relevant science and engineering activities.

 Track 1: Science, Maps and Engineering

• USGS geospatial data coordination within a new mapping discipline
• Age of the current USGS topographic map and what was done following Hurricane Katrina
• Missouri's plan for a new map product
• New data for a new age, LIDAR
• Plans and map needs of the federal, state and department of defense response and recovery community

Track 2: Federal and State Response and Recovery

• An overview of the 2007 Spill of National Significance Exercise
• State Emergency Management Agency statewide exercise lessons learned
• SEMA science needs
• FEMA science needs
• Table top exercise employing tactics, techniques and procedures following a significant seismic event
  
  

Track 3: Strategies for Future Investments in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

• A closed panel session with local, state and federal executives to discuss future investments in New Madrid research. Participants will be invited.