Recently, CUSEC and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) installed a geocache in New Harmony, Indiana. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Several factors make New Harmony a great location for the geocache. For instance, New Harmony is the southernmost county in Indiana, and is located within the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. In 2002, CUSEC worked closely with officials in New Harmony to have a seismic monitoring station installed. New Harmony is also home to one of the oldest geology labs in the United States.
The geocache installation was a partnership effort between CUSEC, IDHS, the Indiana Geological Survey, Posey County Emergency Management Agency, and the New Harmony Inn. The morning of the installation, CUSEC Executive Director Jim Wilkinson and IDHS Executive Director Joe Wainscott gave several media and TV interviews in Evansville, Indiana, to promote earthquake awareness and geocaching. Prior to installing the geocache, CUSEC and IDHS also held a press conference at the New Harmony Inn, where several members of the public and media were present. News stories of the installation and outreach events can be found by visiting WFIE TV 14 Evansville (video included) and the Evansville Courier Press.
This is CUSEC’s eighth geocache, as part of the “What’s Shaking?” series of educational geocaches. These caches contain earthquake and disaster safety takeaways for each visitor. Ultimately, CUSEC hopes to reach at least 500 new cache visitors per year through this effort. For more on geocaching, visit – www.geocaching.com
