After last year's Indonesian earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the hurricanes that ravaged the American Gulf coast and most recently, the catastrophic earthquake in Pakistan, many Memphians are concerned with how the Bluff City would fare in a natural disaster.
A panel discussion and forum entitled, "Preparing for the Big Earthquake: Memphis' Katrina?" will be held at 7 p.m. at The University of Memphis' Rose Theatre.
"It's an expert panel who can respond about response during the earthquakes," said Gary Patterson, information director for the Center for Earth Research and Information.
Some of the panelists will include U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., various officials from FEMA and local EMA as well as U of M staffers such as Patterson. The event was organized by various departments and agencies on campus.
Planning for tonight began nearly three weeks ago.
"We are getting the views of the people who would give the first response, the politicians who would implement those plans and the people who prepare those plans," said Arch Johnston, director of The U of M's Center for Earthquake Research and Information.
There will be some tough questions involved, he said.
The University is getting the word out by means of television and venues.
"We're spreading the news through civic and professional organizations," Patterson said.
If and when an earthquake hits the city, it would affect more than just the Memphis area.
"It is not just a Shelby County issue, but a regional issue," Patterson said.
Unlike hurricanes, earthquakes aren't predictable before they occur.
"We cannot predict earthquakes," Johnston said. "If anyone says they can, they are fooling themselves and other people."
He also said that these plans can expand to more than just safety during an earthquake.
"These kinds of plans make communication possible during all disasters," Patterson said. "We need to establish communications between all agencies."
John Holman, senior criminal justice major, said he believes an earthquake will happen in the future.
"I know it will happen because of what happened here in 1812," he said.
Between December 1811 and March 1812, there was a series of catastrophic earthquakes that shook west Tennessee and the Central Mississippi Valley.
According to eyewitness accounts at the time and Richter scale estimations, the earthquakes, which registered at a 9.0 on the scale, were the strongest to ever hit North America. Before those earthquakes, there was no Reelfoot Lake and the Mississippi River was said to have ran backwards for three days and whole towns were swallowed. Since it was not very populated, few died.
Since Hurricane Katrina decimated much of New Orleans, Memphians and its officials have been verbal about stating both their fears and their plans.
"If we don't plan with seismic size in mind we are taking the same gamble New Orleans took with their levees," Johnston said. "I am hopeful Memphis will never experience an earthquake but it is important to plan as if we are going to."
Merri Allen, a sophomore English major, said she felt the basics of protecting one's self during earthquakes should be taught to everyone.
"Having people learn what to do is just minor training," she said.
Allen said that if an earthquake happened right now she would not know where to go or what exactly to do.
"I would not know what shelters to go to to receive help," she said.
Holman said he hoped that the federal government would be better prepared if a disaster happened here.
"I like to hope so," he said. "I hope they have learned from their mistakes."
