Thursday's Central U.S. Shakeout makes millions earthquake aware

This year's International ShakeOut Day is Thursday, when millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, or home.

At 10:16 a.m. on 10/16, more than two million people across the Central U.S. will be practicing earthquake safety, along with 53 million worldwide. 

A large percentage of that 2 million reside along the New Madrid Fault, one of the most active quake zones in the U.S. Just in the past 25 years, scientists have learned strong earthquakes in the central Mississippi Valley are not freak events, but have occurred repeatedly in the geologic past.

In Missouri, 420,000 have registered; Tennessee 446,000; Kentucky 289,000 and Illinois 190,000.

Event organizers say it’s important to practice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" drills in order to react quickly. They note you may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake, before strong shaking knocks you down, or drops something on you.

If you are inside a building, move no more than a few steps, then Drop, Cover and Hold On until the shaking stops.

Schools, universities, hospitals, government agencies and businesses have planned drills, and met to prepare their facilities to be as quake-proof as is practical.

The website shakeout.org is a clearinghouse of information, educational resources and the proper contacts to take action about earthquake preparedness.