Illinois Residents Encouraged to Register for
‘The Great ShakeOut’ Earthquake Drill
‘Drop, Cover and Hold On’ Drill Set for October 19
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[October 13, 2017]
SPRINGFIELD
- On Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m., millions of people in the U.S. and
around the globe will take a few minutes to practice three simple
actions that could save their lives during a major earthquake.
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The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)
and municipal and county emergency management agencies are
encouraging Illinois residents to drop, cover and hold on during The
Great ShakeOut earthquake drill.
“Earthquakes occur without warning, so it’s important to know what
to do as soon as you feel the earth shake,” said IEMA Director James
K. Joseph. “With two seismic zones in southern Illinois and
residents who travel throughout the world, it’s important that
everyone knows how to stay safe during an earthquake. The drill
takes only a few minutes, but the lessons learned could save your
life.”
The Great ShakeOut drill centers around the drop, cover and hold on
actions: drop down to the ground, take cover under a table or other
piece of heavy furniture, and then hold on until the shaking stops.
In October 2016, nearly 500,000 Illinoisans took part in the
ShakeOut drill. To date, more than 300,000 people in Illinois are
registered for this year’s event. [to top of second
column] |
Some of the most powerful earthquakes to ever occur in the U.S.
happened in the winter of 1811-12 in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which reaches
into southwestern Illinois. That series of earthquakes lasted for several months
and shaking was felt as far away as the East Coast. A similar earthquake today
could cause catastrophic damage in a region that is much more developed and
populated than in the early 1800s.
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. 19, individual drills can be
conducted anytime within two weeks of that date.
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.
[Illinois Emergency Management
Agency] |