Gov. Quinn urges Illinoisans to join biggest earthquake drill in
Midwest history
On
Thursday,
more than 2 million will 'Drop, Cover and Hold On'
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[February 05, 2013]
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn
calls on every Illinois resident, school and business to participate
in what's being called the "largest earthquake drill in the history
of the Midwest." The drill will be on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. The
third annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is a nine-state emergency
preparedness drill designed to encourage residents to think about
what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
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Participants can register for the drill online at
www.shakeout.org/centralus and
will receive valuable tips and information about earthquake preparedness. More
than 410,000 Illinois residents are already registered for the drill, which will
highlight Earthquake Preparedness Month in Illinois."It only takes a minute
to register online in the Great ShakeOut and just seconds to participate in the
drill itself, but the lessons are invaluable," Quinn said. "This drill embraces
the motto of the U.S. Coast Guard: ‘Semper Paratus' or ‘Always Ready.' I invite
everyone to learn what they can do to keep safe."
The drill received a boost from the White House.
"Events like the Great ShakeOut raise awareness about the importance of
disaster preparedness and show how individuals and communities can connect,
engage and learn what action to take," President Obama said.
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Illinois sits atop two major fault zones, the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the
Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. The most powerful series of earthquakes ever to hit
the United States happened in 1811-12 near New Madrid, Mo. In a 2008 study
conducted by the University of Illinois Mid-America Earthquake Center, it was
projected that if a similar quake struck the same region today, there would be
3,500 fatalities, 2.6 million people without electricity and $300 billion in
direct economic losses. Bridges, docks, highways and water infrastructure would
be in shambles.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is heading up preparedness efforts
in Illinois.
"The ShakeOut drill raises awareness about the threat of earthquakes in
Illinois," said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. "The drill only takes a few
minutes, but the lessons learned can save countless lives."
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Monken noted that on the IEMA website,
Ready.Illinois.gov,
residents are offered tips for emergency planning, such as knowing
escape routes and family reunification plans, building an earthquake
kit, and caring for pets. The site provides tips on how to act
during a seismic event, such as avoiding bookcases or, if driving,
viaducts.
The drill focuses on the "Drop, Cover and Hold On" protective
actions people should take when a quake begins: "Drop" down to the
floor, take "Cover" under a sturdy desk or table, and "Hold On"
until the shaking stops.
With just one week to go, 2.3 million Midwestern residents have
already registered for the 2013 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. The
event is sponsored by the Central United States Earthquake
Consortium and its member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky,
Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
Other participating organizations are the American Red Cross,
Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Geological Survey.
[Text from
Illinois
Emergency Management Agency file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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