News Release No. 393

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES RECOGNIZES NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH IN SEPTEMBER

Volume 33-393

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO SEPT. 26, 2005 -- Being prepared in case of an emergency has become even more important since 9/11 and, most recently, the devastation from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recognizes the significance of being knowledgeable about the hazards associated with particular types of disaster and being prepared to minimize associated damages. The department is recognizing National Preparedness Month in September to help increase awareness levels.

The department has on-scene environmental coordinators located across the state to respond to hazardous substance spills. Staff assists communities by helping arrange emergency response training for local responders, by developing mutual aid relationships, providing guidance to fire departments on cost recovery for responses and planning and participating in HAZMAT exercises. Department staff give presentations to local officials, schools and hold public meetings to raise public awareness of the dangers of hazardous substance spills and the impacts to their personal safety and their community. The department has specially designed vehicles that contain protective gear, air monitoring instruments, sampling equipment and spill cleanup equipment to use during environmental emergencies.

During times of disaster, Missouri state parks, which are a major division of the Department of Natural Resources, are often used as staging areas for relief efforts and also can be used as sites to house displaced people. Much of the system's heavy equipment can be used in debris removal, clean up or general construction work. In addition, the state park rangers can assist in law enforcement efforts during emergency situations.

Ensuring Missourians continue to have clean drinking water during a crisis is vital. The department's Public Drinking Water Program provides technical assistance and training activities for improving drinking water system security. The department currently has a contract with the Missouri Rural Water Association to provide on-site assessments. It will evaluate a facility's emergency response plan quality, completeness and ability to meet the requirements of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 and recommendations set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While providing this assistance, the association will also assess training needs throughout Missouri and provide security and emergency response guidance.

The department's Division of Geology and Land Survey provides information on earthquake hazards, the risks associated with a major seismic event and works with the State Emergency Management Agency to inform the public on how to prepare for a major earthquake. Geologic maps can show areas that are more susceptible for earthquake damage and help citizens prepare for future larger earthquakes.

Earthquakes are a multi-state hazard in the Central United States and require coordination between states, local, and federal governmental agencies. There have been 15 earthquakes greater than a 4 magnitude, the threshold for damage, that have occurred in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky or Tennessee since 1974. The New Madrid Seismic Zone is the most active seismic area in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and crosses the southeastern portion of Missouri. For information on what to do before, during and after an earthquake, visit the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/geores/what2do.htm.

The department's Dam and Reservoir Safety Program regulates public and privately owned dams in Missouri that are at least 35 feet tall and not owned or operated by the federal government. There are currently 652 regulated dams in the state. Each of these dams represent a hazard to the public or infrastructure located downstream of the dams. State engineers regularly inspect these dams to ensure they are performing adequately and are on standby to inspect them following a natural disaster such as floods or earthquakes.

For more information on the Department of Natural Resources and how to better prepare, call 800-361-4827 or visit the Web at www.dnr.mo.gov.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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