The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency announces elementary school students from Sikeston and Cuba are the winners of the “Show-Me ShakeOut” Poster Contest, Missouri’s statewide earthquake awareness poster contest. Fourth-grader Chloe Apurado, third-grader Vincent Kleuppel, both students at Saint Francis Xavier School in Sikeston, and fifth-grader Haylee Wright, of Cuba Middle School in Cuba, took the top prizes in their grades for their posters showing the best way for people to protect themselves in an earthquake. The students will be recognized during award presentations at their schools on Tuesday, March 12.
SEMA and the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission sponsored the “Show-Me ShakeOut” Poster Contest to promote the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, a nine-state earthquake drill that was held Feb. 7. More than 575,000 Missourians were among more than 2.9 million people that participated throughout the region. February is also earthquake awareness month in Missouri, and Feb. 7 was the 201st anniversary of the Great New Madrid Quake of 1812, the largest ever to strike the region. For more information about the contest, contact Steve Besemer, Missouri Earthquake Program Manager, at (573) 526-9232.