Illinois Residents encouraged to
register for ‘The Great ShakeOut’ Earthquake Drill
‘Drop, Cover and Hold On’ drill set for
October 15
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[September 23, 2015]
SPRINGFIELD – At 10:15 a.m. on October
15, millions of people across the U.S. and in several countries
around the globe will take a few minutes to practice actions that
could save their lives in the event of an earthquake. The Illinois
Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management
agencies are encouraging people in Illinois to take part in the
annual Great ShakeOut drill.
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“The ShakeOut drill is a quick, easy way to practice earthquake
preparedness,” said IEMA Director James K. Joseph. “It takes very
little time, so it works well for schools and office buildings. You
simply drop down to the ground, take cover under a table or other
piece of heavy furniture and hold on.”
Illinois has participated in ShakeOut drills for the past five
years. In October 2014, nearly 578,000 Illinoisans took part in the
nationwide earthquake drill. To date, more than 534,000 people in
Illinois are registered for the October ShakeOut event.
Joseph noted that some of the most powerful earthquakes to ever
occur in the U.S. happened a little more than 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.
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Schools, businesses, government agencies, families and others can register to
participate in the drill at
www.shakeout.org/centralus. Registered participants will receive
additional information about the drill and earthquake preparedness. While the
international drill will take place on Oct. 15, individual drills can be
conducted anytime within two weeks of that date.
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.
Additional information about the earthquake risk in Illinois and steps to take
before, during and after an earthquake is available at
www.Ready. Illinois.gov
[Terry Storer, Logan County Emergency
Management Agency] |