Are you ready for the ShakeOut? Earthquake drill
Feb. 7 has over 1 million signups and counting
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[January 18, 2012]
Two hundred years ago, a series of
major earthquakes struck the Mississippi River Valley along the New
Madrid Seismic Zone. Recent events remind us that damaging
earthquakes can happen at any time. With more than 40 million people
living and working in the region today, a major earthquake would
cause widespread damage and disruption.
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What we do now, before a big earthquake, will determine what our
lives will be like afterward. With earthquakes an inevitable part of
our future, we must act quickly to ensure that disasters do not
become catastrophes. The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut in February
will involve more than 1 million people through a broad-based
outreach program, partnership with the media and public advocacy by
hundreds of partners. This event is being organized by the Central
United States Earthquake Consortium and the states of Alabama,
Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri,
Oklahoma and Tennessee. The ShakeOut will be centered around a
simultaneous "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" drill at 10:15 a.m. CDT on
Feb. 7. "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the easy-to-remember and
recommended personal protective action to take in the event of an
earthquake.
http://www.shakeout.org/centralus/dropcoverholdon/
Feb. 7 is also the 200th anniversary of the last of the 1811-12
earthquakes that destroyed the town of New Madrid, Mo., and created
Reelfoot Lake in northwest Tennessee.
A key aspect of the ShakeOut is the integration of earthquake
research and the lessons learned from social science research about
why people get prepared for disasters. The result is a "teachable
moment" on par with having an actual earthquake (often followed by
increased interest in getting ready for earthquakes). The ShakeOut
creates the sense of urgency that is needed for people,
organizations and communities to get prepared, to practice what to
do to be safe, and to learn what plans need to be improved. The
ShakeOut inspires communities to work together toward disaster
preparedness and sets aside specific time for them to take proactive
action to become better prepared.
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The 2012 ShakeOut drill will follow on the success of the 2011
drill, when more than 3 million people participated in the largest
preparedness event in central U.S. history.
Interested participants are encouraged to go to
www.shakeout.org/centralus
and pledge their family, school, business or organization's
participation in the drill. Registered participants will receive
information on how to plan their drill and how to create a dialogue
with others about earthquake preparedness.
It is a two-minute commitment for something that can save your
life. It all begins with registering, which is free and open to
everyone.
[Text from
Shakeout.org]
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