The Pacer

Issue date: 2/27/07 Section: Campus News

Disaster preparedness is a mixed bag for many West Tennesseans.

For example, Severe Weather Awareness Week ended this weekend with a tornado watch, but little truly severe weather occurred in the region. Most residents can easily tell you the proper precautions for you to take if you are under a tornado warning - go to the lowest level in your house or the centermost room, grab a blanket to cover up with, and duck and cover your head.

This is the type of natural disaster that Martin and other areas in the region prepare for, said Martin Police Chief David
Moore. However, the region faces one natural phenomenon that it is not prepared for - an earthquake.

In the Feb. 20 edition, The Pacer discussed part of an earthquake town meeting that was held recently in Obion County, as well as how Martin and Weakley County would react if such a disaster were to occur. This week, The Pacer concludes the town meeting, as well as offers tips on how to be prepared in the event of a massive earthquake.

In these types of emergency situations, Moore said, "communication is key."

Officials hope that communications will not be destroyed in the event of a massive earthquake. Depending on the severity of the quake, communications could be destroyed in several areas, including towers and underground cables. This would dismantle communication via cell phones and land lines, and limit radio capabilities.

Moore said that if major communication damage were to occur, the primary lines of communication would be via satellite, which requires federal assistance.

Emergency services would respond in this emergency as best as they could, Moore said. Although they would face many challenges, such as downed bridges and lack of communication, they would still work to serve as many people of the area as possible.

"It's a fear [having responding difficulties], living this close to the New Madrid fault line, that all emergency services have," Moore said. "It's frustrating dealing with something you can't prepare for."

Right now, EMA Director Mike George wants to establish better connections with TEMA and tell the state government what the county needs.

"I hope by education that we can benefit from all of this," George said. "We want to be a lot further ahead than we are now."

Another big concern at the Obion County meeting was about the county's gas lines.

A Shell pipeline runs across Obion County and carries about 2.5 million barrels of oil daily. Other major gas lines also run through the county.

Continued...

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