Urging residents to join in a global safety exercise, Gov. Bruce Rauner recently designated Oct. 20 as Great ShakeOut Day in Illinois, both to acknowledge the state's seismic risk and increase public awareness of the need to prepare.
The international earthquake drill is officially set at 10:20 a.m. on that date, when “millions of people in the U.S. and around the globe will take a few minutes to practice how to stay safe when an earthquake occurs,” Gov. Rauner said.
The drill’s basics entail a three-step “drop, cover and hold on” sequence: drop down to the ground, take cover under a table or other heavy furniture and hold on until the event is over or shaking stops. This procedure can keep people safe from falling objects, injury and even death.
“In addition to the seismic zones impacting Southern Illinois, many residents travel to places in the U.S. and around the world that are at risk for earthquakes,” Gov. Rauner said. “That’s why I encourage everyone to learn more about earthquake preparedness and to take part in the Great ShakeOut drill.”
Schools, businesses and individual families can all sign up to participate at www.shakeout.org/centralus. Participants will receive information in advance and residents are also reminded that they can practice the drill at any time.
Part of the drill’s message is to raise awareness that earthquakes are not limited to specific geographical areas such as the U.S. West Coast, but can occur anywhere.
To date, over 435,000 individuals in Illinois have signed up for the Great ShakeOut drill.
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