FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2015


More than one-half million Missourians participated in Oct. 15 ShakeOut earthquake drill

More than one-half million Missourians, including over 400,000 students, faculty and staff at K-12 schools, participated in the 2015 Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” earthquake drill On Oct. 15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 16, 2015

 

More than one-half million Missourians participated in Oct. 15 ShakeOut earthquake drill

More than one-half million Missourians participated in the 2015 Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” earthquake drill on Oct. 15, including more than 400,000 students, faculty and staff at K-12 schools in the state.  The annual drill, which teaches people how to protect themselves in an earthquake, included more than 3.2 million people in 14 states, including 522,489 Missourians.

 

During the ShakeOut, participants practiced the “Drop, Cover, Hold On” technique for 60 seconds:

DROP to the ground

Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops

 

Experts say the Drop, Cover, Hold On technique is the best way to protect yourself from falling debris, which is the most likely cause of injury during an earthquake in developed nations.

 

“It’s great to see so many Missourians chose to take part in this important safety drill,” said State Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Walker. “Earthquakes occur without warning, so it’s important to know in advance how to respond.” 

 

More than 200 years ago, the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which includes parts of southeast Missouri, produced some of the largest earthquakes ever in the continental U.S. A major earthquake in this area would likely produce damage in much of southern and eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis area.

 

To learn more about earthquakes in Missouri and how to prepare to respond, visit www.sema.dps.mo.gov/earthquake_preparedness.

 

 



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