FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2011


Registration is now open for Missourians to participate in second annual "Great Central U.S. Shakeout" earthquake drill on Feb. 7

State Emergency Management Agency encourages schools, families and businesses to participate in drill that had almost 450,000 Missouri participants in first year

Registration is now open for the second annual Great Central U. S. "ShakeOut” earthquake drill, which will take place at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2012. More than 3 million people in 11 states, including 448,000 Missourians, took part in the first Central U.S. ShakeOut drill on April 28, 2011. More than 500 Missouri school districts and individual schools participated in the brief exercise that teaches what to do in the event of an earthquake.
To sign up for the ShakeOut , go to: http://www.shakeout.org/centralus/index.html. More than 58,000 Missourians are already registered to participate. The site provides links to other earthquake preparedness information. In addition to schools, there are also participant categories for colleges and universities, businesses, non-profit organizations, medical facilities, individuals and families and more.
The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) is encouraging Missourians to use the drill as an opportunity to practice the protective actions to take in the event of an earthquake. Small earthquakes and tremors occur frequently in Missouri, and a major earthquake could occur at any time. A 3.9 magnitude earthquake occurred 17 miles southeast of Sullivan, Missouri on June 7; a 3.6 magnitude occurred three miles southeast of Grandin, Missouri on Sept. 22.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone, which includes parts of southeast Missouri, has produced some of the largest earthquakes ever in the continental U.S. Experts say knowing how to respond when an earthquake occurs is an important step to practice before the next major event occurs.
During the ShakeOut, residents should practice the "Drop, Cover and Hold On” technique for 60seconds:  ·    DROP to the ground ·    Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and ·    HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops
The "Drop, Cover and Hold On" technique is considered the best way to protect yourself in an earthquake.
The February 7 ShakeOut drill will be held on the 200th anniversary of the largest of the great New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-12. February is also Missouri's annual Earthquake Awareness Month.
The states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee are also participating in the Feb. 7 ShakeOut.
For more information about the New Madrid Seismic Zone and Missouri's Earthquake Preparedness visit SEMA's Web site at http://sema.dps.mo.gov/Earthquake_Preparedness/default.asp .

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