Almost 400,000 Missourians are registered to participate in the “Great Central U.S. ShakeOut” earthquake drill on April 28.
During the ShakeOut, participants will “Drop, Cover and Hold On” for about 60 seconds. Experts say this is the best way to protect yourself during an earthquake, since in the U.S. the primary threat for injury or loss of life during an earthquake is falling debris and toppling objects, like bookcases and heavy electronics, not a structural collapse.
At 10:15 a.m. on April 28, Missourians and people around the central U.S. will:
-DROP to the ground.
-Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table.
-HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
In Missouri, more than 275,000 students and teachers at 275 school districts and individual schools across the state are already registered to take part in the ShakeOut. More than 47,000 students and staff at Missouri colleges and universities are registered, as well as more than 19,000 employees as hospitals and medical facilities.
This is the first ShakeOut earthquake drill in the central U.S., with a total of 11 states participating.