Are You Prepared?

• In 2001, the Nisqually earthquake caused over $51.2 million in damage to area businesses. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration)
• This last winter, a snow storm caused widespread power outages, transportation issues, lost revenue, and business closures, including performance cancellations at local arts and cultural organizations.
• This coming winter, if the Green River floods as a result of problems with the Howard Hanson Dam, thousands of residents and businesses could face as much as $2 billion to $3 billion in property damage. (Source: Seattle Times)
• Over the summer, the World Health Organization declared the H1N1 virus to be a pandemic based on its broad geographic reach and it’s expected to return this fall. (Source: pnwlocalnews.com) 

Nonprofit cultural organizations in King County attract 13 million visitors annually to theaters, museums, science centers, and events. Last winter's relatively mild snowstorms clearly demonstrated that most arts groups, already suffering from strained resources, are not well-equipped to manage a significant emergency event.

In response, you are invited to participate in an upcoming two-hour seminar on emergency preparedness. This seminar is hosted by Seattle University, in partnership with ArtsFund, 4Culture, the Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Seattle Office of Emergency Management, and Public Health-Seattle & King County.

You will learn about personal and business applications of basic emergency preparedness as well as how to better prepare for potential crisis scenarios, including snowstorms, earthquakes, floods, and public health emergencies.

As the manager of one of the area’s largest arts groups said, "The economic downturn has burned through a lot of our financial and human resources. We're fragile. A blow like H1N1 could be devastating."

Are you prepared?

Date:                Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Time:                2:00pm – 4:00pm

Location:          Pigott Auditorium – Seattle University Campus, 901 12th Avenue

Registration:     http://prepared.eventbrite.com/

Contact Info.   Kevin Maifeld, maifeldk@seattleu.edu