SEMA News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 01, 2012

Cuba fifth grader wins statewide earthquake poster contest; Award presentation and earthquake drill demonstration are Tuesday, March 6

Poster contest promotes Missouri earthquake preparedness and participation in "Great Central U.S. ShakeOut" earthquake drill

A fifth grader from Cuba is a winner of Missouri's statewide earthquake awareness poster contest and will be recognized on Tuesday, March 6.  Jordan Jamieson, a student at Crawford County R-II Middle School, took the top prize among fifth graders for his poster showing the best way for people to protect themselves in an earthquake. 

Media are invited to attend the award presentation and a highly visual demonstration of the "Drop, Cover, Hold On" technique of self-protection that Jordan's poster helps promote. State Emergency Management Agency and local officials, and a member of the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission, will take part in the award ceremony and lead the Drop, Cover, Hold On earthquake drill demonstration. 
Date:               Tuesday, March 6 Time:              12:25 p.m. Location:        Crawford County R-II Middle School, 1 Wildcat Pride Drive, Cuba
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 450,000 Missourians were among more than 2.4 million people that participated throughout the region. February is also earthquake awareness month in Missouri, and Feb. 7 was the 200th anniversary of the Great New Madrid Quake of 1812, the largest ever to strike the region.
Third, fourth and fifth grade students across Missouri participated in the contest, with one winner from each grade receiving a $50 gift card as well as Red Cross emergency response supplies for their classrooms. The winning posters will be displayed on SEMA's Web site and used to help promote earthquake awareness throughout 2012 and leading up to next year's Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill.
For more information on earthquake history, geology and preparedness in Missouri, please visit the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency at www.sema.dps.mo.gov and click on "Earthquakes.”

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For more information, call 573-751-5432 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov