Congressman Cohen Introduces Earthquake Preparedness Legislation

Washington, DC – Congressman Steve Cohen introduced legislation today aimed at ensuring that trauma centers and airports in seismically hazardous regions are capable of withstanding a major earthquake.

The Critical Infrastructure Earthquake Preparedness Act directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a grant program to improve the ability of trauma center hospitals and airports to withstand earthquakes. These grants will be directed towards facilities located in seismically hazardous areas that have the greatest need for seismic retrofitting and will be the most critical following a catastrophic earthquake. If enacted, Memphis would be eligible to obtain grant money to retrofit The MED and/or Memphis International Airport because of the 9th District’s location in the New Madrid Fault Zone.

“Seismologists project that a major earthquake along the New Madrid Fault Zone could cause tens of thousands of fatalities and injuries as well as over $100 billion in direct economic losses,” Congressman Cohen said. “One lesson that can be learned from the recent disasters in Haiti and Chile is that being prepared and having seismically sound buildings can make a difference in the aftermath of an earthquake. Following an earthquake, The MED would be inundated with casualties, and the Memphis Airport would become the regional lifeline for supplies and relief aid. My legislation would provide federal grant monies to retrofit such facilities throughout the nation and ensure they will be operational following a catastrophic earthquake.”

Last year, at the request of then Shelby County Mayor Wharton, Congressman Cohen secured a $325,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for a seismic mitigation study for the 9th District. At the time, Congressman Cohen noted that it was essential to ensure that Memphis’s transportation assets, which are vital to the city’s economic success and national commerce, are seismically sound.

“Memphis cannot afford to be unprepared in the event of a major earthquake,” Congressman Cohen said. “The Critical Infrastructure Earthquake Preparedness Act would ensure that in the aftermath of an earthquake, response and recovery could begin immediately as trauma centers and airports would be fully functional.”

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