ashes, ashes, we all fall lou romig md, faap, facep miami children’s hospital fl-5 dmat

Ashes, ashes, we all fall

Lou Romig MD, FAAP, FACEPMiami Children’s HospitalFL-5 DMAT

Kobe Japan 1995

The New

Madrid Seismic

Zone

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

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+)

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

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

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

7.5 quake along the New Madrid

Flooding Fires Landslides Sand blows Contamination and disruption of

water supplies Haz-mat releases

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

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

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?

Some harder questions…

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

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?

The questions need to be asked.

You won’t find the answers in a book.

Never add to a disaster.

Be honest about your capabilities and your commitment.

Every disaster response will be a life-changing experience.

Thank you!

louromig@bellsouth.net

www.jumpstarttriage.com