Millions of people worldwide, including residents of the Twin Lakes Area, will practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On Thursday morning at 10:17 during The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills.Close to home, 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. The area of major earthquake activity also has frequent minor shocks and is known as the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The NMSZ is made up of several thrust faults stretching from Marked Tree to Cairo, Illinois.
Event organizers says 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: DROP to the ground; Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
Stay indoors till the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. In most buildings in the U.S. you are safer if you stay where you are until the shaking stops.
If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, you should find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold On. Stay there until the shaking stops.
If you are driving, pull over to a clear location, stop and stay there with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, proceed with caution and avoid bridges or ramps that might have been damaged.
Ground shaking during an earthquake is seldom the cause of injury. Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths are caused by collapsing walls and roofs, flying glass and falling objects. It is extremely important for a person to move as little as possible to reach the place of safety he or she has identified because most injuries occur when people try to move more than a short distance during the shaking.
Look around you now, before an earthquake. Identify safe places such as under a sturdy piece of furniture or against an interior wall in your home, office or school so that when the shaking starts you can respond quickly. An immediate response to move to the safe place can save lives. And that safe place should be within a few steps to avoid injury from flying debris.
A number of local individuals and organizations have registered online as of Tuesday at The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut website indicating they will be participating in the drill.
Among the local organizations is Baxter Regional Medical Center.
BRMC’s director of paramedic services, Gerald Cantrell, says the medical center conducts earthquake drills annually. Participants are advised of the drill via texts and emails and provides instructions on Drop, Cover and Hold On.
School districts include Bergman, Jasper Elementary, Mountain Home’s Nelson-Wilks-Herron Elementary and Salem High School.
Others registered include Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, Izard County Office of Emergency Management in Melbourne, Izard County Medical Center’s Rural Health Clinic in Calico Rock and 1st Choice Healthcare in Salem.
Also registered to participate are Izard County Medical Center in Calico Rock, Hospice of North Arkansas in Mountain Home, Gassville Therapy and Living and Care Manor Nursing and Rehab in Mountain Home.
In southern Missouri, participants include Lutie R-VI School District in Theodosia and the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division and Family Support Division in Ava.
For more information, visit shakeout.com/centralus.
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