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With recent earthquake experiences in Oklahoma, especially around Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties, area residents are being asked to participate in the annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, an earthquake drill to promote awareness and preparedness.
With advice to “Drop, cover and hold on,” during a earthquake, the drill will occur at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, with more than 2.2 million people in nine states expected to participate. As of Friday, nearly 58,000 Oklahoma residents have signed up pledging to participate.
The earthquake drill is organized and coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of other partners.
Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Joey Wakefield said he’s sent letters to school districts and businesses throughout Lincoln County to tell them about the drill, which may be important in light of recent quakes with epicenters in the Sparks, Prague and Meeker areas.
Although large earthquakes are rare in Oklahoma, the activity in November included a 5.6-magnitude that caused damaged to many structures in Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties.
Participation in the drill is voluntary, Wakefield said, but the event is held mainly to bring awareness and prompt residents to think about getting together a home disaster supplies kit, which is something everyone should have for any kind of disaster, whether it be Oklahoma winter storms or severe weather. He especially reminds everyone to have flashlights and batteries.
Wakefield said Oklahoma, with its range of weather and other disasters, has the third or fourth largest highest declarations of disaster in the country.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health also is participating in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, with departments in Pottawatomie, Seminole, Hughes and Okfuskee Counties Health Departments being among those participating. Local Emergency Response Coordinator Mike Potter said a script has been prepared and will be read at those health departments for the drill, with the entire practice lasting about two minutes.
Because there is no warning for an earthquake, knowing what to do quickly is even more important.
“Individuals, families, businesses and government organizations — everyone has a role in disaster preparedness,” said FEMA Region 6 Deputy Regional Administrator Tony Robinson. “When you participate in a drill, put together a supply kit, have a preparedness plan and stay informed, you are taking steps to protect yourself and loved ones in the event of a disaster.”
A person only has seconds to react to an earthquake, so it’s important to know what to do when the ground starts shaking.
On Tuesday, residents can practice the following:
• DROP to the ground,
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
The drill will start at 10:15 a.m. when the National Weather Service sends a tone-alert to the NOAA Weather Radio letting everyone know it’s time to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
For more information or to register, go to www.shakeout.org/centralus. For more information on earthquake preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov.
With recent earthquake experiences in Oklahoma, especially around Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties, area residents are being asked to participate in the annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, an earthquake drill to promote awareness and preparedness.
With advice to “Drop, cover and hold on,” during a earthquake, the drill will occur at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, with more than 2.2 million people in nine states expected to participate. As of Friday, nearly 58,000 Oklahoma residents have signed up pledging to participate.
The earthquake drill is organized and coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of other partners.
Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Joey Wakefield said he’s sent letters to school districts and businesses throughout Lincoln County to tell them about the drill, which may be important in light of recent quakes with epicenters in the Sparks, Prague and Meeker areas.
Although large earthquakes are rare in Oklahoma, the activity in November included a 5.6-magnitude that caused damaged to many structures in Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties.
Participation in the drill is voluntary, Wakefield said, but the event is held mainly to bring awareness and prompt residents to think about getting together a home disaster supplies kit, which is something everyone should have for any kind of disaster, whether it be Oklahoma winter storms or severe weather. He especially reminds everyone to have flashlights and batteries.
Wakefield said Oklahoma, with its range of weather and other disasters, has the third or fourth largest highest declarations of disaster in the country.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health also is participating in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, with departments in Pottawatomie, Seminole, Hughes and Okfuskee Counties Health Departments being among those participating. Local Emergency Response Coordinator Mike Potter said a script has been prepared and will be read at those health departments for the drill, with the entire practice lasting about two minutes.
Because there is no warning for an earthquake, knowing what to do quickly is even more important.
“Individuals, families, businesses and government organizations — everyone has a role in disaster preparedness,” said FEMA Region 6 Deputy Regional Administrator Tony Robinson. “When you participate in a drill, put together a supply kit, have a preparedness plan and stay informed, you are taking steps to protect yourself and loved ones in the event of a disaster.”
A person only has seconds to react to an earthquake, so it’s important to know what to do when the ground starts shaking.
On Tuesday, residents can practice the following:
• DROP to the ground,
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
The drill will start at 10:15 a.m. when the National Weather Service sends a tone-alert to the NOAA Weather Radio letting everyone know it’s time to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
For more information or to register, go to www.shakeout.org/centralus. For more information on earthquake preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov.
