“GREAT CENTRAL U.S. SHAKEOUT” EARTHQUAKE DRILL SET FOR OCTOBER 15, 2015

Pearl, MS – The Mississippi Emergency Management is encouraging everyone in the state to take part in the fifth annual “Great Central U.S. ShakeOut” Earthquake Drill on Thursday, October 15 at 10:15 a.m.

During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”. The essential steps to take are to:

• DROP to the ground.

• Take COVER under a sturdy table or desk if possible, protecting your head and neck.

• HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

Citizens in Mississippi are not immune to earthquakes. The state is on the outer edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone which saw a series of major earthquakes in the early 1800’s which caused catastrophic damage. There are several fault lines that cross the state.

“While the greatest risk for Mississippi lies in the northwest part of the state, we know they can happen anywhere as we had three small quakes this year in Madison County,” said MEMA Director Robert Latham. “All Mississippians should know how to protect themselves from an earthquake whether you are at home, school, work or just out in the community. Preparedness is the key to surviving a disaster regardless of where you are.”

The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups. To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate at www.shakeout.org/centralus.

Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

To date, three million people are registered to participate in this regional event, however drills will also take place throughout most of the nation and in several countries worldwide. More than 40 million people around the globe are expected to participate; and in addition to safety drills, many participants take extra steps to become more prepared for earthquakes or other disasters.

The “Great Central U.S. ShakeOut” is being coordinated by local and state emergency management, as well as by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and dozens of other partners.

For detailed preparedness information please visit MEMA’s website, www.msema.org, and on its social media outlets Facebook and Twitter for updates.