Ashes, ashes, we all fall

1. Ashes, ashes, we all fall Down Lou Romig MD, FAAP, FACEP Miami Children’s Hospital FL-5 DMAT

3. Kobe Japan 1995

4. The New Madrid Seismic Zone

5. NMSZ • 120 miles long, from Missouri to Arkansas • Crosses 5 state lines • Crosses the Mississippi River in three places and the Ohio River in two • Geology of the area results in force transmission over an area 20x greater than West Coast quakes

6. New Madrid Quakes 1811-12 • Three major quakes estimated around 8 on the Richter scale, more than 10x stronger than the Great San Francisco earthquake • More than 2000 shocks over a 5 month period • 18 of the shocks rang church bells in Boston • Damage in 8 states • Death toll uncertain (100+)

7. The Future Along the New Madrid • Greatest earthquake risk in the US after the West Coast • 6.0 or greater shock ~ every 80 years. Last one in 1895. • >90% probability of a 6.0-7.6 event before 2040 • 7.5 or greater shock ~ every 200-300 years. The last ones in 1812. • ~ 7% probability of a major quake in the next 50 years

8. 7.5 quake along the New Madrid • Damage expected in at least 20 states, > 1,000,000 sq miles • Tremors felt over half the US • Catastrophic damage in Memphis and St Louis • Unreinforced masonry structures demolished • Damage estimates in the 12 figure dollar range

9. 7.5 quake along the New Madrid • Disruption of transportation routes for the entire country – road, rail, river, air • Disruption of energy supplies for much of the country (LP gas trunk lines) • Likely that everyone in the US will be affected directly or indirectly

10. 7.5 quake along the New Madrid • Flooding • Fires • Landslides • Sand blows • Contamination and disruption of water supplies • Haz-mat releases

11. 7.5 quake along the New Madrid 10 million homeless 500,000 injured 20,000 - 80,000 deaths 6 Children’s Hospitals in Memphis and St. Louis alone

13. Are you prepared for disasters as individuals and families? • Is your parent facility prepared for a disaster? • Does your team have it’s own disaster plan? • Staff • Equipment • Priorities before, during, after

14. Has your facility and team done everything possible to join disaster resource networks before a disaster ever happens? • Do you know what you may be getting yourselves into as responders?

15. Some harder questions…

16. How much risk is your parent facility willing to let you take? • How much of a financial commitment is your facility willing to make? • Is your team prepared to function independently, providing most of your own supplies and support? • Is your team adequately trained to do scene work in potentially dangerous environments? Discipline vs. risk-taking

17. Are you physically and psychologically prepared to work in austere, dangerous conditions? How much risk are you willing to take? • Does your family support you in your role as a responder?

18. Reality Check

20. The questions need to be asked. You won’t find the answers in a book.

21. Never add to a disaster. Be honest about your capabilities and your commitment. Every disaster response will be a life-changing experience.

22. Thank you! louromig@bellsouth.net www.jumpstarttriage.com