www.fema.gov/impact

Washington, November 15, 2000 -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has named Sparks, Nevada, one of ten Project Impact Star Communities. Sparks received the award for their work in implementing numerous disaster mitigation projects as well as their success in educating the community about mitigation measures that can be taken to prevent damage from earthquakes, wildfires and floods.

The Project Impact Star Communities award is given out annually to ten communities that exemplify the sprit, innovation and commitment necessary to be a successful Project Impact community. FEMA's Project Impact: Building Disaster Resistant Communities aims to educate all Americans about the importance of disaster damage prevention.

"Project Impact is about saving lives, protecting property, protecting the economic and social fabric of communities and saving citizens the heartache of disaster," said FEMA Director James Lee Witt. "Communities like Sparks are making great strides in educating and protecting its residents from disasters and shine as an inspiration for other communities to follow."

The city of Sparks has over 50 Project Impact partners that have played an active role in taking action to safeguard the community from the dangers of earthquakes, wildfires and floods. They city has implemented over 20 projects to date including:

• IBM Global Services conducted a business-by-business review of risks and hazards and provided each of the 40 business participants with an itemized list of recommended actions to avoid or reduce damage from potential hazards;
• Supply One instituted a 'Tool Lending Library' with classes to teach homeowners and business how to install mitigation measures such as foundation bolts, roof tie downs and water heater straps; and
• The University of Nevada Reno Seismology laboratory designed and printed earthquake awareness calendars for the school children of Washoe County.

Sparks is currently working on local fundraising efforts to implement other projects related to disaster mitigation and preparedness.

"We are pleased to recognize Sparks as a Project Impact Star Community," said Martha Whetstone, regional director for FEMA's Region IX, which includes Nevada. "Sparks exemplifies what every community can achieve when it works together to reduce the devastating effects of disasters."

Other communities receiving the 2000 Project Impact Star Communities Award include:

• Culebra, Puerto Rico
• Roanoke, VA
• Charleston County, SC
• Urbana, IL
• Ouachita Parish, LA
• Denison, IA
• Morgan County, CO
• Sparks, NV
• Kenai Peninsula Borough/Soldotna, AK

The Project Impact Star Communities will be recognized on November 15th at the Project Impact Summit 2000 - an annual event that gathers representatives from cities, towns, state governments, voluntary agencies and corporations to celebrate efforts to inform American's about disaster prevention measures. The third annual Project Impact Summit is being held in Washington, DC on November 12-16, 2000 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. For more information on the Summit, please visit www.fema.gov/summit2000.

Since its inception in 1997, nearly 250 communities and 2,500 business partners have embraced Project Impact. Instead of waiting for disasters to occur, Project Impact communities initiate mentoring relationships, private and public partnerships, public outreach and disaster mitigation projects to reduce damage from potentially devastating disasters. Previous community projects have included creating disaster resistance strategies, revising local building and land use codes, and passing bond issues to construct prevention measures that will impact the entire community.

For more information about Project Impact or preventing damage, call (202) 646-4117 or visit www.fema.gov/impact.