Department of Public Safety

2017 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut

The 2017 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut Earthquake Drill will take place on Thursday, Oct. 19 a 10:19 a.m. (local time).  Participating is a great way for your family or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes.

Federal, state, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.  The ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes.

In most situations, you will reduce your change of injury if you:

DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees.  This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter nearby.

COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand.

• If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for a shelter
• If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows)
• Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs.

HOLD ON until shaking stops

• Under shelter:  hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts.
• No shelter:  hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

 

Studies of injuries and deaths caused by earthquakes in the U.S. over the last several decades indicate that you are much more likely to be injured by falling or flying objects (TVs, lamps, glass, bookcases, etc.) than to die in a collapsed building.  Drop, Cover, and Hold On offers the best overall level of protection in most situations.

For more information about earthquake preparedness, visit the shakeout.org website.

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