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For Immediate Release: October 7, 2021
The 2021 ShakeOut Earthquake Drill is scheduled for October 21
Prepare to Protect. Practice Your Emergency Plans.
Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Emergency Management Agency is urging Ohioans to join over 17.5 million people across the globe participating in the largest worldwide earthquake drill.
At 10:21 a.m. on Oct. 21, Ohioans will join the Great Central U.S. Consortium and practice to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” during the one minute 2021 ShakeOut Earthquake Drill.
“Some may question participating in an earthquake drill in Ohio, but the state does experience its fair share,” said Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick. “In fact, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Seismic Network database, between January and August of this year, 14 small-scale earthquakes or tremors have been detected. Allen County recorded the strongest earthquake in Ohio so far this year, with a magnitude of 2.5.”
The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill can be considered as a continuation of National Preparedness Month. Disaster preparedness does not end after September. Ohioans need to be aware of all hazards that can impact their homes and communities. Part of disaster planning is to identify potential hazards or natural disasters, know how to respond to each, and then practice your safety plans.
To date, nearly 7,000 Ohioans have registered to take part in the earthquake drill, but those numbers are well behind last year’s numbers, where 16,253 registered. Individuals, households, schools, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to sign up to participate in this year’s ShakeOut and to help spread the word and encourage others to participate and prepare to protect.
During the one-minute drill, Ohioans are encouraged to practice these simple steps:
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DROP onto your hands and knees.
This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter. If you have mobility issues, either lock the wheels of your wheelchair or stay seated and bend over at the waist.
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COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand.
If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for protection. If no shelter is available, crawl next to an interior wall and stay clear of windows.
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HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
If you are under a table or desk for shelter, hold onto it with one hand and be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts.
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“The ShakeOut drill may last for only one minute, but the emergency planning and preparedness that occurs behind the scenes of the ShakeOut makes it more than just an earthquake drill,” Merick noted. “The earthquake drill is intended to keep people talking about emergency safety and preparedness for all hazards including fires, flooding, tornadoes, and infectious diseases like COVID-19 and influenza.”
To learn more about earthquake preparedness and to register for the ShakeOut, visit www.shakeout.org/centralus/. Additional earthquake preparedness information is also available at www.ready.ohio.gov. Click on “Earthquakes” in the green menu bar.
Ohio EMA will promote the earthquake safety campaign and drill virtually, posting all ShakeOut information on Facebook and Twitter.
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