The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is next week, on October 20 at 10:20 in the morning and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) is reminding Hoosiers that it’s not too late to register and participate in this opportunity to practice earthquake safety.
Individuals and communities throughout the Central U.S. region will take part in the drill by practicing the recommended response to an earthquake, which is “Drop, Cover and Hold On”:
- DROP to the ground;
- Take COVER under a sturdy desk or table; and
- HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
Indiana is exposed to a serious threat of earthquakes along the New Madrid Seismic Zone – located 180 miles southwest of Evansville – and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, which encompasses parts of Southeastern Illinois and Southwestern Indiana.
Hoosiers can use the days leading up to the ShakeOut to check for items in their homes or workplaces that could become dangerous during an earthquake, such as top-heavy or unsecured furniture or appliances. For more information about earthquake safety and disaster preparedness, visit GetPrepared.in.gov.
IDHS recommends that participants register for the ShakeOut to receive updates as well as information on how to plan their drill. Registration is free, open to everyone and can be accessed at http://www.shakeout.org/centralus/register/.
Indiana’s participation in the ShakeOut is led by local emergency management agencies, IDHS, the Indiana Department of Education, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Geological Survey.
Indiana currently leads the Central U.S. region with more than 631,000 registrants. Other states in the region include Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
