Registration is now open for the 2024 Great Central U. S. “ShakeOut” earthquake drill on Thursday, and four area school districts, the Howell County government and four local medical facilities have already signed up.
Many people recognize the southeast region of the state as Missouri’s Bootheel, but not everyone knows it is also at the center of one of the country’s most active earthquake zones. The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) spans more than 100 miles and averages over 200 small earthquakes a year, according to the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency.
To prepare for any future earthquakes, registration is now open for the 2024 Great Central U. S. ShakeOut earthquake drill on Thursday. Missouri is one of 14 participating central U.S. states that could be impacted by a NMSZ earthquake.
“Missouri is home to a very large and active seismic zone,” SEMA Director Jim Remillard said. “Earthquakes occur without warning, so it’s important to prepare now. The ShakeOut drill is a great opportunity to practice so you know what to do when the shaking starts.”
Nearly 2.5 million Missourians registered to participate in last year’s ShakeOut, and more than 400,000 are already registered for this year’s drill, which is intended to remind people how to protect themselves during an earthquake. Cabool, Mtn. Grove, Mtn. View-Birch Tree and West Plains R-7 are among the participating school districts. Medical facilities that have registered to date are Texas County Memorial Hospital, both its main campus in Houston and its Cabool clinic; Behavioral Health Group in West Plains; Missouri Ozarks Community Health in Ava; and NHC Healthcare West Plains.
At exactly 10:17 a.m. Oct. 17, participants will practice the “Drop, Cover, Hold On” technique: They will DROP to their hands and knees; COVER their heads and necks with their hands and arms under a table or desk if possible; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
Studies show that in developed countries with modern structures, falling debris is the most common source of injuries in an earthquake. Experts advise that when an earthquake occurs in the U.S., the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” technique is the best way to protect oneself and others from falling debris.
To sign up for the ShakeOut, visit www.shakeout.org/centralus. Schools, businesses, community organizations or any other group can register, in addition to families and individuals. Once registered, participants receive regular updates on the drill, as well as information on earthquake preparedness and safety.
In 1811 and 1812, the NMSZ zone produced some of the largest earthquakes in U.S. history and seismic experts agree that similar quakes still pose a risk today. Shaking from another major earthquake in this area would be felt not only in Missouri, but across the Midwest, and would damage much of southern and eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis metropolitan area.
To learn more about earthquakes in Missouri and how to prepare, visit www.sema.dps.mo.gov/earthquake_preparedness.
