Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, September 26, 2016
(UNDATED) - The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is four weeks away - October 20, 2016, at 10:20 a.m. - and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) is encouraging Hoosiers to register and participate in this drill promoting earthquake safety preparation and awareness.
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.
The ShakeOut is an opportunity to practice proper safety measures in the event of an earthquake, and participating is simple and only takes a few minutes. Here's how it works: on October 20 at 10:20 a.m., participants should drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk and hold on as if a major earthquake were happening.
The days leading up to the ShakeOut are a great time to check houses, workplaces or schools for potential earthquake hazards and to create a preparedness kit that can be used for a variety of situations, not just earthquakes. Disaster kits should include water and food for all household members, first-aid supplies, flashlights and batteries, medication, items for pets, and extra clothing. For information on disaster kits and emergency preparedness, visit GetPrepared.in.gov.
To learn more about how individuals, families or organizations can participate in the 2016 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut and to register, visit GetPrepared.in.gov. Registration is free and open to everyone.
The ShakeOut is the largest earthquake drill in the Central United States, and it's led by local emergency management agencies, IDHS, the Indiana Geological Survey, the Indiana Department of Education, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey.
A total of 2.3 million people in the Central U.S. region have registered so far, and Indiana is currently in the lead with more than 561,000 registrants. Other states participating include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, Louisiana, Kansas and Tennessee. Last year, Indiana had nearly 700,000 Hoosiers register for the drill.
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