 |
|
|
March 1, 2001 1:20 p.m. Earthquake update Project Impact partnership helps King, Pierce Counties resist quake damage Thanks to Project Impact, King and Pierce County’s cooperative efforts in disaster prevention paid major dividends in the midst of this region’s strongest earthquake in over 50 years. Designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Project Impact's basic goal is disaster prevention to buffer communities against the impacts of disaster before it strikes them. FEMA Project Impact grants in 250 communities around the country have stimulated local ideas to save lives, reduce property damage, and speed economic recovery. FEMA estimates that each dollar spent on mitigation will save at least $2 in recovery. The benefits of this effort in King and Pierce counties were demonstrated in Wednesday’s earthquake in Western Washington. “We measure success in prevention and in minimizing damage in a disaster,” said Eric Holdeman, Incident Manager for King County’s Office of Emergency Management. “This partnership has been a major emphasis as we prepared for our worst case scenario - an earthquake event.” In September 1998, King and Pierce Counties gathered together community and business leaders to focus the direction of their Project Impact funds. The three projects chosen for this effort are described below. Transportation Corridor Mitigation This project is among the biggest in scope undertaken by any Project Impact community. Its purpose is to ensure, to the maximum degree possible, the viability of the region after a major disaster. These disasters could include earthquake, landslide, lahars generated by Mt. Rainier, and/or a hazardous materials incident. Elements of the project assure a functioning transportation corridor between the two markets of King and Pierce counties. “SecureIt” The goals of this effort are to develop partnerships to promote the use of tie-downs and other securing devices for home use, such as for computers and house foundations. Through public and private partnerships, Project Impact maks these products readily available to computer owners and enables users to expand the public education campaign in partnership with business, media and schools. The project also supports computer and other nonstructural disaster prevention in schools, businesses and at home. Small Business Mitigation This project's goal is to increase small business survivability after a disaster through development of business alliances, education and physical mitigation. University students will form one on one, on-site relationships with businesses and chambers of commerce, educating themselves and others about mitigation, and assisting businesses. Each pilot community will develop its own method. Big business mentoring relationships; small business mutual aid; and internet alliances are but a few options. For more information, call (253) 798-7428. Updated: March 1, 2001 Executive's e-mail King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not
constitute endorsements by King County. |
|