Bruce Babbitt to Keynote ABAG's Earthquake Conference; New Quake Probabilities from USGS; Public Information Video From ABAG.

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1999--

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will host a two-day conference on earthquake safety and preparedness on Thursday and Friday, October 14 and 15, 1999.

The conference, Living on Shaky Ground, will feature Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt as a keynote speaker (10-14 at 1 p.m.). USGS Director, Dr. Charles Groat, will introduce Secretary Babbitt, and will be the keynote speaker on the second day (10/15 at 12:30 p.m.).

Dr. David Schwartz, Chief of the San Francisco Bay Area Earthquake Hazards Project for the USGS, is expected to announce new earthquake probabilities for 18 fault segments located throughout the San Francisco Bay Area (10/14 at 8:50 a.m.).

ABAG will release a new report, Preventing the Nightmare, and a public information video, Stand Up to the Quake -- Get Your Home in Shape, both intended to encourage homeowners to retrofit for earthquake safety. ABAG will also announce updated estimates for housing losses (red-tagged homes) and road closures for the 18 fault segments around the Bay.

Day One Highlights (Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway): USGS announcement ABAG damage forecasts; loss estimation (in dollars) from the State Geologist; Bay Bridge info from the Director of CalTrans Jose Medina; BART plans to raise $800 Million to retrofit its system; City of Berkeley's retrofit incentive program; legislative ideas from Assembly member Ellen Corbett, chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Earthquake Safety and Preparedness. Keynote by Bruce Babbitt.

Day Two (MetroCenter Auditorium, 101 -8th Street, Oakland): In addition to the keynote by Dr. Groat, the second day will feature commentary from elected officials who served during Loma Prieta (including former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos); and a panel discussion on "Who Will Pay" for earthquake damages -- with comments from FEMA, the California Earthquake Authority, State Farm Insurance, and Washington Mutual Bank. Field Trip to UC Berkeley's Richmond Field station open to the media; see the "shaking table" simulate a major quake, and the latest wood and steel research designed to prevent the kind of damage we have seen in Turkey and Taiwan.

The Living on Shaky Ground conference is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The cost is $95 each day or $170 for both days ($70/$125 for ABAG members); this includes breakfast, lunch and materials. Participating organizations will also have informational displays on earthquake preparedness. The full agendas and more information may be obtained from ABAG's website: http://www.abag.ca.gov (click on earthquakes).