During May, Project Manager Barbara Harrison joined the National Earthquake Program Managers meeting in Denver where delegates from 33 states and U.S. territories came together with FEMA Building Science Branch, nine FEMA partner organizations and the four earthquake consortia. The agenda focused on best practices, scientific advances and ideas for advancing earthquake preparedness and mitigation. Barbara briefed attendees on the QuakeSmart Business Toolkit and new QuakeSmart Community Resilience Program.  

FLASH Partner Bruce McCullen facilitated a strategic planning session focused on maximizing limited resources, and on May 23, the managers toured the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC).  The NEIC provides rapid identification of destructive earthquakes worldwide and disseminates event location and magnitude data to national and international agencies, scientists and the general public.

FEMA Building Science Branch Chief and FLASH Legacy Partner Ed Laatsch remarked, “This meeting is an excellent opportunity for the frontline earthquake leaders to come together, connect and exchange information about initiatives like ShakeOut, the QuakeSmart program, NETAP training and other innovative programs from California to Guam, Puerto Rico and beyond. The gathering provides an essential forum to share ideas, craft solutions and inspire new ways to advance earthquake safety and science across the globe.”

Now in its third year, the FLASH Scholarship Program recently awarded six $1,500 scholarships to students seeking graduate degrees in fields that underpin disaster safety and resilience, including construction, engineering, financial services, meteorology, risk communication and social sciences. FLASH partners from The Home Depot, International Code Council, KOHLER Generators, Portland Cement Association, RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm®, and WeatherPredict Consulting Inc. generously provided funding for the students listed below, and three awards are still available.

• FLASH Scholarship - Rebecca Thompson, University of California-Irvine
• International Code Council Scholarship - Christine Alfano, Colorado State University
• RenaissanceRe Scholarship - Keren Bolter, Florida Atlantic University
• Simpson Strong-Tie Scholarship - Austin Thompson, University of Florida
• State Farm Scholarship - Luping Yang, University of Florida
• WeatherPredict Consulting Scholarship - Brandy Stimac, University of North Carolina-Charlotte

“Through these scholarships, our partners are integrating the cause of disaster safety and resilience into the professions that make the most impact,” said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. “By doing so, they are helping these talented students understand how they can become a force for change throughout their careers.”

Recipients will present their research findings during the 2014 FLASH Annual Conference - Resilience Revolution from November 19 to 21 in Orlando, FL. For more information or to apply for a scholarship, visit flash.org/scholarship.

On June 7, SVP Tim Smail joined more than 200 volunteers from three countries for the Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief Volunteer Retreat in Ashville, NC. Tim presented a two-hour workshop on “Building Back Better” that highlighted affordable building practices that strengthen homes.

“Tim provided valuable information on how to build back better after a disaster. With only minor adjustments in construction, we can make our homes much safer. The work that FLASH is doing saves lives,” said Brent Graybeal, Program Manager for Samaritan’s Purse.

On June 14, Barbara Harrison and volunteer Shelby Harrison joined Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner/FLASH Leadership Partner Ralph T. Hudgens, Georgia Insurance Information Services, The Home Depot and WTOC to host the 14th Annual Savannah Area Hurricane Preparedness Expo. FLASH Legacy Partners State Farm and USAA also helped anchor this annual community preparedness effort that brings thousands together once a year.  “The Hurricane Preparedness Expo in Savannah was a great success again this year. Hundreds of Georgians attended, seeking information on how to be prepared before and after the storm. Thank you to my partners for this event, The Home Depot and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. This event couldn't have happened without your support,” said Commissioner Hudgens.

On June 24, Tim Smail joined the lineup at the 2104 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Kick-Off Press Conference & Reporter Workshop at University of Maryland’s Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC). The workshop showcased the theme of Building Lightning Safe Communities, and also included Jennifer Morgan, Lightning Safety Alliance; Jeanne Salvatore, Insurance Information Institute; Phil Loutsey, Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) Inspection Program. LPI Communications Director Kim Loehr moderated the panel and remarked, “Collaboration with committed, like-minded individuals and partner groups like FLASH, is making a difference to expand lightning safety awareness. Tim’s engineering perspective provided insight into the role that lightning protection systems play in building lightning safe communities.”

On June 18, Leslie Chapman-Henderson spoke at the American Geophysical Union Science Policy Conference on a panel entitled, “Under Water: Flood Risk Communications”.

Her presentation, “Moving Science to the Street…Best Practices, Benefits and Beyond” covered safety, storm surge/evacuation, mitigation and insurance. Dr. Julie McClure of the American Society of Agronomy moderated the panel that included Jessica Nusbaum, Maryland EMA; Marie Peppler, USGS; and David Watson, Virginia DEM.

The Northridge 20 Steering Committee released a summary report of the Northridge 20 Symposium held in Los Angeles, January 16-17.  FLASH co-presented the symposium along with Applied Technology Council, the American Institute of Steel Construction, California Earthquake Authority, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Seismic Safety Commission, Caltrans, City of LA Department of Building and Safety, CVSIC, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, FEMA, Los Angeles Tall Building Structural Design Council, NEES, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER), RenaissanceRe Risk Sciences Foundation, Southern California Earthquake Center, Structural Engineers Association of Southern California, University of California - Los Angeles, USGS, and the Western States Seismic Policy Council.

The report presents findings and preliminary recommendations for next steps in 11 areas to improve earthquake resilience. The symposium Steering Committee seeking broad-based participation and comment through report feedback at www.northridge20.org as they work to refine and prioritize critical actions needed to advance seismic resilience.

FLASH Corporate Board Advisor and Clemson Civil Engineering Professor, Dr. Leidy Klotz, was named on NerdScholar’s inaugural “40 Under 40: Professors Who Inspire” list that celebrates contributions made by teachers under the age of 40 to their respective schools.

“Remember that teacher who left a mark on your life, who changed the way you think about the world,” asks NerdScholar’s website. “NerdScholar’s inaugural ’40 Under 40′ celebrates professors who are doing just that: cultivating passion in their students.”

“FLASH success comes from participation and leadership from talented professionals like Dr. Klotz. We congratulate him on this exciting recognition and are proud to have his talent in our movement,” said Leslie Chapman-Henderson.

The 2014 FLASH Annual Conference agenda is now available. This year’s event, the Resilience Revolution, will showcase forward thinking policies, programs, research, and strategies that drive resilience across the nation.

The conference will take place November 19-21 at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek, Orlando. To view the agenda and to take advatage of early registration rates visit flashannualconference.org