FEMA Educates Tulsa First Responders, Architects On Earthquake Preparedness

About 4,000 earthquakes have rattled Oklahoma this year, and Tuesday at the capitol, lawmakers discussed a legislative study on earthquakes and fracking.

In Tulsa, first responders, educators and architects went back to class Tuesday to get a lesson from FEMA on earthquake preparedness.

The experts said whether it's a tremor, a rattle or the big one, buildings can easily be damaged. Tuesday's lesson was about spotting that damage and preventing injuries.

FEMA says they look at everything from the foundation to the way the lights are hung.

Most of Oklahoma's quakes have been minor, but nearly ten percent were a three-magnitude or greater.

Even the slightest shake can affect the structural soundness of buildings.

“People need to know what kind of building they are in. Is it masonry? Is it concrete block, is it steel structure? And what resiliency does it have an earthquake event," Roger Jolliff, with the Tulsa Emergency Management Agency asked.

FEMA says knowing the basic facts will help first responders, educators, architects and builders.

Garfield, Grant, Logan, Oklahoma and Payne counties in central Oklahoma have been hit by two-dozen 4.0 or greater quakes, but seismologists call eastern Oklahoma's quakes light.

Despite that, emergency managers said Tulsans still need to prepare.

“This is a newer issue for us in northeast Oklahoma. We are not as large of a threat as the central part of the state, but it's good to know what potential is out there so we can better plan for it,” Jolliff said.

During the two-day course at OSU, FEMA is teaching experts how to prepare for and respond to earthquake damage.

The goal is to safeguard existing structures and think about potential hazards in the construction of new buildings.

The tips given at the lesson can't be applied to your average family home.

"If you have any questions you really need to get to someone who has technical knowledge - being a structural engineer, an architect or someone who really understands buildings - because most of us as laymen really don't understand whether something is minor damage that is okay, or, if something that could jeopardize your home," Jolliff said.

Wednesday they will take the course outside of the classroom and actually inspect buildings to test their knowledge.