FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Memphis, TN — This Thursday, on October 16, 2014 at 10:16a.m, nearly 4.8 million people across 19 States and the District of Columbia will take part in the Great Central U.S. and Great SouthEast ShakeOut Earthquake Drills. The ShakeOut is a regional earthquake drill in which participants simultaneously practice how to stay safe during an earthquake —“Drop, Cover, and Hold On”:
- DROP to the ground
- Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, or cover your head/neck with your arms and
- HOLD ON until the shaking stops
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia are encouraging schools, businesses, organizations, government agencies, communities, and households to participate. Nationwide, more than 26 million people in 47 states and territories are expected to participate in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills.
The ShakeOut follows the third anniversary of the August 23, 2011 Mineral, Virginia earthquake which caused damage in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and was felt by an estimated 100 million people. While the primary activity of the ShakeOut is based upon a drill procedure that is similar to a fire or tornado drill, participants are encouraged to take actions to become better prepared for all disasters. This could include:
- Securing heavy items to prevent them from causing injuries during an earthquake
- Creating an emergency plan and/or updating emergency supply kits
- Talking with their families and neighbors about emergency preparedness
Interested citizens, schools, communities, businesses, etc. are encouraged to visit www.shakeout.org/southeast to register to participate in the drill. On the website, many resources are available for participants to use during their drills including manuals, videos, audio broadcasts, earthquake scenarios, and more.
The Great Central & SouthEast ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are being coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its other Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and dozens of other partners. Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills began in California in 2008 and have expanded each year since then.
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