Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Dexter, Missouri – February is Earthquake Awareness Month in Missouri and the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut Earthquake Drill is set for today at 10:30 a.m. CST.
Most area schools including the Dexter Public School system and several local businesses will be participating in this annual drill. According to the website, www.shakeout.org/centralus. Over 350,000 Missourians are registered to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut Drill.
Missouri is only one of nine states taking part in this “DROP, COVER, HOLD ON” technique that will last about 60 seconds. Students will be taught to DROP to the ground, take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, HOLD ON to it until the shaking tops.
Today is the 201st anniversary of the largest earthquake to ever occur in Missouri, the famous New Madrid Earthquake. Many folks from southeast Missouri know the history of the earthquake, some even have heard of many tales passed down from grandparents and great-grandparents. There are many stories of how the Mississippi River flowed backwards for days and how our local fishing holes were created.
Even a few local residents remember the The Great Non-Event of 1990 as it is known today. A prediction of a major earthquake was set for December 3, 1990 and New Madrid, Missouri became the center of attention in the news media. But what did come out of all that was "AWARENESS". People learned about being prepared for an earthquake, whether they lived in Southeast Missouri or on the coast of California.
Earthquake Awareness Month is a great opportunity for schools and families to practice and discuss preparedness so that they know what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone, centered in southeast Missouri, is the nation’s most active earthquake zone east of the Rocky Mountains. You can visit the Department of Natural Resources’ website for information about the science and history of earthquakes in the state at http://dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/earthquakes.htm.
Also, SEMA is using Facebook (www.facebook.com/MissouriShakeOut) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/MOShakeOut) to provide additional information about earthquakes, earthquake preparedness and updates about the ShakeOut. This will continue through the month of February.
