Carbondale | wikipedia.org
Carbondale | wikipedia.org
On October 16 at 10:16 a.m., residents across Illinois are encouraged to participate in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills. The event is designed to help people practice safety measures such as "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" in case of an earthquake.
Although earthquakes are often associated with the West Coast, Illinois is situated between two active seismic zones: the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. Earthquakes have been recorded in various parts of Illinois, including McHenry County in 2012, Kane County in 2010, and Wabash County in 2008. There is also potential for residents to feel tremors from neighboring states.
The goal of the ShakeOut drill is to encourage preparedness and help individuals know what actions to take during an earthquake. Organizers emphasize that earthquakes can happen unexpectedly, whether people are at work, home, school, or elsewhere.
"ShakeOut's purpose is to help people and organizations do both," organizers stated.
Suggested steps for individuals and families include securing items that could fall during a quake, creating disaster plans, updating emergency supply kits, and addressing any structural issues at home. More information about the event can be found on the official website at https://www.shakeout.org/.
Alerts Sign-up