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 ShakeOut is an international event involving
millions of participants from more than 40 states and territories
and several countries. The goal of this “Drop, Cover and Hold On”
drill is to improve preparedness and draw attention to the
earthquake hazards that exist in Illinois, across the country and
around the world.
Millions of people around the world have already registered online.
In Illinois, more than 50,000 Illinoisans have registered within the
last two weeks. To date, more than 152,000 people have pledged to
participate in this annual exercise. Local emergency managers
throughout the state are hoping to increase that number as we
approach the day of the drill.
“Fire drills and tornado drills are common practices in schools and
at businesses, but not everyone knows what they should do in the
event of an earthquake,” said IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “We
cannot predict when or where the next devastating earthquake will
occur, but we can help people learn how to protect themselves and
reduce damage to their homes.”
Due to COVID-19, our work and school environments are changing. With
people working from home and students learning remotely, the Central
United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) has developed toolkits
for homeschools, individuals and families to utilize. As with any
year, you can schedule your ShakeOut drill when and where you want
it, whether that’s at work, home, school, or through a video
conference.
Why is this important?
Earthquakes can occur at anytime, anywhere and without warning.
While we often associate earthquakes with the west coast, quakes can
and do occur closer to home. Illinois is positioned between two
active seismic zones, the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the Wabash
Valley Seismic Zone. Earthquakes were reported in Illinois in 2012
(McHenry County), 2010 (Kane County) and 2008 (Wabash County). [to top of second
column]
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In fact, an earthquake in any of our neighboring states could be
felt by residents in Illinois. This underscores the importance of preparedness.
An earthquake can strike when you are at work, at home, at school, or while on
vacation. When you are asleep in your bed or at an afternoon ballgame. ShakeOut
provides the opportunity to practice what you would do in the event of an
earthquake.
Shakeout Participation is as easy as 1, 2, 3…
1. REGISTER your home, school, business or organization on the ShakeOut
website: www.ShakeOut.org/centralus.
Once registered, your point of contact will receive important information about
earthquakes and preparedness.
2. MAKE A PLAN. Build an emergency supply kit for your family. Talk to
your family members about what you should do in the event of an earthquake.
Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, televisions and
objects that hang on the wall. Evaluate your home for structural issues.
3. PRACTICE “DROP, COVER and HOLD ON” on October 15, 2020, at 10:15 am.
Drop to the ground onto your hands and knees.
Cover your head and neck with one arm to protect yourself from falling objects.
Hold On to a sturdy table or desk until the shaking is done.
These are the recommended actions to protect yourself during an earthquake.
Additional earthquake preparedness and mitigation information is available on
the following websites:
http://www.ready.
illinois.gov and
http://www.cusec.org.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |
