Tuesday, February 7 is the 200th anniversary of the last of four major earthquakes to shake the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which includes Missouri and Illinois. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) rated the quake at approximately 7.7 on the Richter scale. With less than a week to go, 2.1 million people are expected to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, which covers Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
To mark the occurrence of the 1812 quake, students and staff members at all HSD schools are enrolled to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. On February 7 at 10:15 a.m., students and staff members will have the opportunity to take part in earthquake drills where they drop, cover and hold on.
“The ShakeOut is a great opportunity for the schools to become better prepared for a major earthquake,” said Audrey Cherry-Bates, director of school safety.
The USGS general guidelines recommend that during an earthquake people should DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you), take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table and HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops. If there is not a table or desk nearby, people should cover their faces and heads with their arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. They should not try to run to another room just to get under a table.
To read the seven steps to earthquake safety, click here - http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/steps.html