For the Reporter

What if a mega-quake toppled dozens of unreinforced masonry buildings in Seattle? What if the sewer system couldn’t be used, there were issues with the drinking water and fire scares across the region?

Those nightmare scenarios aren’t out of the movie, “San Andreas”. Instead, it was a reality for Christchurch, New Zealand, when that city’s downtown core was devastated by a 6.3 earthquake on Feb. 22, 2011. It’s taken years for the city to recover, but the incident commander for that devastating earthquake says there are lessons that our state’s business community can learn.

Jon Mitchell of New Zealand’s Massey University is the keynote speaker during a free QuakeSmart Earthquake Business Preparedness Summit on Wednesday, June 17 in Kent.

The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Simpson Strong Tie-In Co., 22083 64th Ave. S.

Massey and experts from the Washington Emergency Management Division and others throughout the state will discuss the response implications of a large-scale disaster, as well as specific, actionable steps businesses can take to improve preparedness and avoid business interruption.

The all-day summit hosted by the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) and Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW) and co-sponsored by the Washington Emergency Management Division includes a free lunch.

Registration at www.earthquakesummit.com s suggested.

“Jon Mitchell can give valuable advice for business owners to understand the importance of continuity planning,” said John Schelling, the earthquakes program manager for the Washington Emergency Management Division. “How long could your business survive without power? Without sewer or water? He can give us a first-hand account of what happens in a crisis.”

Schelling is also giving a presentation to bring home the realities that an earthquake will happen in our state.

“Christchurch has a lot in similar with Tacoma or Spokane, even,” Schelling said. “It’s a look in the mirror for the rest of us.”