Learn about the ‘The Great ShakeOut’

While Ohio doesn’t experience earthquakes on a large scale, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey reports that the state has experienced five this year, and twelve in 2017. 

As a safety practice for Ohio residents, FEMA, the Ohio EMA and the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium remind folks to stay ready for earthquakes and other natural disasters through a safety event called The Great Shakeout. This earthquake drill is scheduled for 10:18 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18. The ShakeOut is designed to get people talking about earthquakes and other disasters like floods and tornadoes and to make a disaster plan for such events.

During the ShakeOut drill, practice the safest response to an earthquake:

• DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if it’s nearby. For individuals with mobility issues, lock the wheels of your wheelchair or stay seated, and bend over.

• COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall, away from windows.

• HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If you are under a table or desk for shelter, hold onto it with one hand and be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts.

Register online at www.shakeout.org/centralus/ if you or your organization plans to participate. Earthquake preparedness information and resources are also available on this site.