FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 06, 2013


Sikeston and Cuba students win statewide earthquake poster contest; Award presentations are March 12

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

The 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.

Media are invited to attend the award presentations. Representatives from the SEMA and the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission will take part in the award ceremony.
Date:               Tuesday, March 12 Time:              10:00 a.m. Location:        Cuba Middle School, 1 Wildcat Pride Drive, Cuba, MO
Date:               Tuesday, March 12 Time:              2:30 p.m. Location:        Saint Francis Xavier School, 106 N. Stoddard, Sikeston, MO

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.
Third, fourth and fifth grade students across Missouri participated in the contest, with one winner from each grade receiving a $50 gift certificate. The prizes are courtesy of ABNA Engineering, Inc. of St. Louis, Central Electric Power Cooperative of Jefferson City, the University of Missouri-Columbia's Department of Geological Sciences, and the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross. The winning posters will be displayed on SEMA's website and used to help promote earthquake awareness throughout 2013 and leading up to the next Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.
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.”
To view pictures of the winning posters, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/missouridps/sets/72157632935578322/show/.

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