Department of Public Safety

More than one million people across nine states will participate in the 2012 Great Central U.S. Shakeout at 10:15 a.m. CST on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut offers individuals, schools, businesses, governments, and communities an opportunity to prepare themselves before a damaging earthquake strikes.

Watch this video.

To register your organization to participate in this year's drill, follow this link to the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut website.

Below are some helpful tips from the Ready.gov website:

Before an Earthquake

The following are things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your property in the event of an earthquake.

• To begin preparing, you    should build an emergency kit    and make a family    communications plan.
• Fasten shelves securely to    walls.
• Place large or heavy objects    on lower shelves.
• Store breakable items such as    bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches.
• Fasten heavy items such as    pictures and mirrors securely to walls and away from beds, couches and anywhere    people sit.
• Brace overhead light fixtures    and top heavy objects.
• Repair defective electrical    wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks. Get    appropriate professional help. Do not work with gas or electrical lines    yourself.
• Install flexible pipe    fittings to avoid gas or water leaks. Flexible fittings are more resistant    to breakage.
• Secure your water heater,    refrigerator, furnace and gas appliances by strapping them to the wall    studs and bolting to the floor. If recommended by your gas company, have    an automatic gas shut-off valve installed that is triggered by strong    vibrations.
• Repair any deep cracks in    ceilings or foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs of    structural defects.
• Be sure the residence is    firmly anchored to its foundation.
• Store weed killers,    pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with    latches and on bottom shelves.
• Locate safe spots in each    room under a sturdy table or against an inside wall. Reinforce this    information by moving to these places during each drill.
• Hold earthquake drills with    your family members: Drop, cover and hold on.

 

During an Earthquake

Drop, cover and Hold On. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If Indoors

• DROP to the ground; take    COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD      ON until the shaking stops. If there    isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms    and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass,    windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as    lighting fixtures or furniture.
• Stay in bed if you are there    when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow,    unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case,    move to the nearest safe place.
• Do not use a doorway except    if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway and it is    close to you. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and do not    offer protection..
• Stay inside until the shaking    stops and it is safe to go outside. Do not exit a building during the    shaking. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings    attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to    leave.
• DO NOT use the elevators.
• Be aware that the electricity    may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.

If Outdoors

• Stay there.
• Move away from buildings, streetlights,    and utility wires.
• Once in the open, stay there    until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside    buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120    fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach    earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed    by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an    earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most    earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and    falling objects.

If in a Moving Vehicle

• Stop as quickly as safety    permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings,    trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the    earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have    been damaged by the earthquake.

If Trapped Under Debris

• Do not light a match.
• Do not move about or kick up    dust.
• Cover your mouth with a    handkerchief or clothing.
• Tap on a pipe or wall so    rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as    a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

After an Earthquake

• When the shaking stops, look    around to make sure it is safe to move. Then exit the building.
• Expect aftershocks. These    secondary shockwaves are usually less violent than the main quake but can    be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can    occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.
• Help injured or trapped    persons. Remember to help your neighbors who may require special    assistance such as infants, the elderly and people with access and    functional needs. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously    injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.    Call for help.
• Look for and extinguish small    fires. Fire is the most common hazard after an earthquake.
• Listen to a battery-operated    radio or television for the latest emergency information.
• Be aware of possible tsunamis    if you live in coastal areas. These are also known as seismic sea waves    (mistakenly called "tidal waves"). When local authorities issue    a tsunami warning, assume that a series of dangerous waves is on the way.    Stay away from the beach.
• Use the telephone only for    emergency calls.
• Go to a designated public    shelter if your home had been damaged and is no longer safe. Text SHELTER    + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest    shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
• Stay away from damaged areas.    Stay away unless your assistance has been specifically requested by    police, fire, or relief organizations. Return home only when authorities    say it is safe.
• Be careful when driving after    an earthquake and anticipate traffic light outages.
• After it is determined that    its’ safe to return, your safety should be your primary priority as you    begin clean up and recovery.
• Open cabinets cautiously.    Beware of objects that can fall off shelves.
• Find out how to keep food    safe during and after and emergency by visiting: http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/emergency/index.html   
• Put on long pants, a    long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and work gloves to protect against injury    from broken objects.
• Clean up spilled medicines,    bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area    if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals.
• Inspect the entire length of    chimneys for damage. Unnoticed damage could lead to a fire.
• Inspect utilities.
• • Check for gas leaks.      If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and      quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if      you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off      the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
  • Look for electrical      system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you      smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or      circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or      circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
  • Check for sewage and      water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using      the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the      water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe      water by melting ice cubes.