Missouri participates in earthquake drill this week

Missouri will practice for the “Big One” this week.

More than 400,000 Missourians are already registered to take part in the Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” earthquake drill, which is scheduled for 10:16 a.m. on Thursday. Last year, more than 2.4 million people in 10 states took part in the annual drill that teaches participants to “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”

“The ShakeOut earthquake drill is more than a way to teach Missourians how to protect themselves in the event of a major earthquake,” said State Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Walker. “The drill helps introduce young people to the concept of planning for and reacting quickly to different types of emergency situations. I encourage schools, businesses and families to consider participating in this short and simple drill.”

During the ShakeOut, participants should practice the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” technique for 60 seconds:

• DROP to the ground

• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops

To sign up for the ShakeOut, go here. Registration takes only minutes. The site provides links to useful earthquake preparedness information. In addition to schools, colleges and universities, businesses, non-profit organizations, medical facilities and families are all invited to participate.

More than 500 Missouri school districts and individual schools participated in the ShakeOut drill last year. Small earthquakes and tremors occur frequently in Missouri, and a major earthquake could occur at any time. The New Madrid Seismic Zone, which includes parts of southeast Missouri, has produced some of the largest earthquakes ever in the continental U.S. Experts say knowing how to respond when an earthquake occurs is an important step to practice before the next major event occurs.

The “Drop, Cover and Hold On” technique is considered the best way to protect yourself during an earthquake. Interested citizens, schools, communities, businesses, etc. are encouraged to visit the ShakeOut website to pledge their participation in the drill. Once registered, participants receive regular updates leading up to the ShakeOut, including information on earthquake and disaster safety. Also, the ShakeOut website has many resources are available for participants to use to plan their drills including drill manuals, videos, audio drill broadcasts, earthquake scenarios, and more.

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Missouri participates in earthquake drill this week