The earthquake that hit eastern Illinois on Friday, April 18, is the type of
event communities throughout the Midwest should prepare for, say organizers of
an earthquake preparedness conference to be held this summer at Missouri
University of Science and Technology.

“Preparing for a Significant Central U.S. Earthquake” is the theme of the
“New Madrid Seismic Zone Conference,” to be held Aug. 12-14 at Missouri S&T
in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, the USGS Mid-Continent
Geographic Science Center, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’
Division of Geology and Land Survey, the State Emergency Management Agency and
the American Society of Military Engineers. More conference information is
online at conference.mst.edu/newmadridconf/.

Although the conference title focuses on the possibility of a major
earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone in southeastern Missouri, the
subject matter should also prove relevant to other seismic zones in the
Midwest, says Dr. Henry Wiebe, dean of the Missouri S&T School of Extended
Learning. As part of the conference, the first day will be devoted to emergency
management training for first responders.

“This conference is unique in that it combines practical training on
earthquake response and recovery with presentations on the latest scientific
research on seismic studies,” says Wiebe.