FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Southaven, MS. — On February 7, 2013 more than 2.5 million people are expected to participate in the third annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. The ShakeOut is a regional earthquake drill involving communities throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. At 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, ShakeOut participants will practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”, the recommended safety procedure during an earthquake.
DeSoto Central Primary School, located in Southaven, Mississippi, will be holding an open-to-the-media ShakeOut drill and demonstration. During the demonstration, senior officials from Local, State, and Federal Government organizations, including the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, will be on hand to:
- Talk with students and media about the importance of earthquake and disaster safety.
- Demonstrate proper earthquake safety techniques to students and staff.
- Provide updated information on the likely hood of earthquake occurrence.
Media are invited to attend and take footage of the earthquake drill and hold interviews with senior officials, including the chief executives of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, and the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium. Press Kits will be provided.
WHEN: Feb. 7, 2013 from 9:45a.m.to 10:30 a.m. (media setup by 9:45a.m.)
WHERE: DeSoto Central Primary School
3210 Getwell Road
Southaven, Mississippi 38672
WHO: Dr. Marcia McNutt, Director, U.S. Geological Survey
Mike Bograd, Director, Mississippi Geological Survey
Robert Latham, Director, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
Colleen Long, Principal, DeSoto Central Primary School
Bobby Storey, Director, DeSoto County Emergency Management Agency
Jim Wilkinson, Executive Director, Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium
RSVP: To gain access to the school, interested media should RSVP with Katherine Nelson, Community Relations Director, DeSoto County Schools at (662) 449-7122.
The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of partners.
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