The announcement is to promote earthquake safety and to teach Midwesterners what to do during an earth quake. The date corresponds to the 200th anniversary of the largest earthquake to ever hit the Midwest in Missouri on the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which touches the southern part of Illinois. The second annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is a multi-state earthquake drill.
In the event of an earthquake, residents should:
- Drop, Cover and Hold On.
- 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.
Learn about earthquake safety at shakeout.org/centralus/
