Bay Area Residents Reminded About Earthquake Preparedness

Bay Area Residents Reminded About Earthquake Preparedness

Simpson Strong-Tie(R) Launches Public Awareness Activities

DUBLIN, Calif., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- April is Earthquake Preparedness Month-a time to remind consumers about preparing their homes and families for the next big quake. This year's awareness campaign is combined with a significant date in history. April 18, 2006, marks the 100 year anniversary of the San Francisco earthquake or "Great Quake." Simpson Strong-Tie(R), a Bay area-based supplier of structural building components, is helping to spread the message of structural safety and earthquake preparedness by launching several public awareness activities.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060412/SFW080 )

This past fall, Simpson Strong-Tie began sponsoring local announcements on KGO News Radio. The radio spots commemorate the centennial of the Great Quake while reminding Bay area listeners of the importance of earthquake safety. In February, Simpson began airing similar commercials on local television stations to further increase public awareness.

The company also launched a consumer-oriented section on its Web site to help educate homeowners about earthquake preparedness. The site includes information about earthquakes, frequently asked questions and a checklist featuring the critical connections in a home. Simpson is also reaching out to the academic, business and design community by exhibiting at the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference in San Francisco, April 18-22, booth 1301-1303. The conference will showcase research findings and best practices in science, engineering and risk management during the past century.

A new History Channel program, Mega Disasters: San Francisco Earthquake, will cover the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and look at the latest seismic research and technology. The show, which premieres Sunday night, April 16, will feature Simpson's Tyrell Gilb Research Laboratory, which conducts extensive testing to understand how structures perform during earthquakes. The facility's state-of-the-art test equipment can simulate ground motion, recreating earthquakes like the 1989 Loma Prieta quake in California, which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale.

"The Loma Prieta quake caused more than 3,750 injuries, 63 deaths and nearly 6 billion in property damage. We want to be better equipped when the next big earthquake strikes," says Steve Pryor, building systems research and development manager for Simpson Strong-Tie. "Our laboratory is helping us to understand building performance and develop products that can help resist seismic forces, so that we keep structures intact and protect lives."

Simpson's recent activities are a part of the company's ongoing efforts to educate consumers and the industry about the importance of building stronger, safer homes.

About Simpson Strong-Tie(R)

For 50 years, Simpson Strong-Tie has been helping people build safer structures economically. A leader in structural systems technology, Simpson is one of the largest suppliers of structural building products in the world. Simpson's commitment to research and development, and product testing is evident in the consistent quality and delivery of its products and services. Simpson Strong-Tie products are sold through a network of retail outlets and marketing partners. For more information about Simpson Strong-Tie, visit the company's Web site at www.strongtie.com.

CONTACT: Shelby Heimbach of Simpson Strong-Tie, +1-925-560-9068, or sheimbach@strongtie.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060412/SFW080
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN8
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Simpson Strong-Tie

CONTACT: Shelby Heimbach of Simpson Strong-Tie, +1-925-560-9068, or
sheimbach@strongtie.com

Web site: http://www.strongtie.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Visit www.strongtie.com/GreatQuake to preview Simpson Strong-Tie's Great Quake site featuring a homeowner checklist on seismic safety and a video from its research laboratory.

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