"Reports indicate there were minimal structural damages following last month's earthquake," said International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Richard P. Weiland. "That is welcomed news and a tribute to the code enforcement professionals and governmental jurisdictions that are committed to safety during earthquakes and other disasters. While the areas affected by the earthquake may not build to seismic code provisions and standards as other regions do, I believe code compliance played a positive role."

Unlike the annual U.S. hurricane season, which spans from June through November, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate pointed out that earthquakes have no regular season and are not limited to geographic regions such as the western U.S. "It is a reminder that the East Coast is vulnerable to earthquakes," Fugate said, in a video posted to the White House blog. "Not all disasters come with a forecast. Earthquakes don't give us much warning, but if we're prepared and know what to do we can minimize the impacts and take care of ourselves and our families." Fugate will address the critical role of code enforcement officials and the importance of codes in disaster mitigation while serving as the keynote speaker at the Code Council's 2011 Annual Conference and Final Action Hearings in Phoenix.

Weiland said jurisdictions in the region should treat last month's earthquake as a wakeup call for structural performance and public safety. "About 200 years ago, four major quakes ranging from 7.0 to 8.0 in magnitude hit the New Madrid region, covering eight states including the cities of Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; and Little Rock, Arkansas; causing the Mississippi River to run upstream and church bells to ring in Boston," Weiland said. "We know that a similar earthquake in this region today would be one of the worst disasters in American history, yet code officials are struggling to persuade local and state governments to include the seismic provisions outlined in the International Codes. Building smart saves lives and money."