IEMA encourages participation in ShakeOut 2013
Earthquake drill
Feb. 7
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[November 21, 2012]
SPRINGFIELD -- At 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2013, millions of people
in the central United States will seek shelter under their desks,
kitchen tables and other sturdy objects as part of the third annual
"Great Central U.S. ShakeOut" earthquake drill. The Illinois
Emergency Management Agency is encouraging people to register for
the multistate drill. More than 86,000 Illinois residents have
registered to date.
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"The ShakeOut drills have helped raise awareness of the
earthquake risk in the central U.S. and what people can do to
protect themselves when the earth starts to shake," said IEMA
Director Jonathon Monken. "The drill takes just a few minutes, but
the lessons learned could save countless lives."
Monken noted that the most powerful earthquakes to ever occur in
the U.S. happened a little over 200 years ago in the New Madrid
Seismic Zone, which reaches into southern Illinois. That series of
earthquakes lasted for several months, and shaking was felt as far
away as the East Coast. The Feb. 7 ShakeOut date coincides with the
201st anniversary of the last earthquake in that series.
Schools, businesses, government agencies, families and others are
encouraged to register at
www.shakeout.org/centralus to participate
in the drill. Registered participants will receive additional
information about the drill and earthquake preparedness. While the
multistate drill will take place at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 7, individual
drills can be conducted anytime within two weeks of the Feb. 7 date.
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The drill focuses on the "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" protective
actions people should take when an earthquake begins: "Drop" down to
the floor; take "Cover" under a sturdy desk, table or other
furniture; and "Hold On" to the furniture item and be prepared to
move with it until the shaking stops.
The event is being organized by the Central United States
Earthquake Consortium and its member states of Alabama, Arkansas,
Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
Oklahoma residents will also be participating in the drill.
For additional information about the earthquake risk in Illinois
and steps to take before, during and after an earthquake, visit
www.ready.illinois.gov.
[Text from
Illinois
Emergency Management Agency file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |