[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...8c524794037.txt

Drop, cover ... and hold on!

Largest earthquake drill planned for Tuesday
By Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, April 17, 2011 5:08 PM CDT
LA PORTE — There’s still time to register for and be part of the largest earthquake drill ever held in the Midwest.

Several area cities, school districts and fire departments already are signed up to participate at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, which gives people an opportunity to prepare for a damaging earthquake before one strikes, said Fran Tibbot, La Porte County Emergency Management director. The agency is scheduled to participate in the drill and give a short program at Niemann Elementary School in Michigan City that day.

So far, there will be 2.1 million participants, including 540,000 Hoosiers, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Although it was not a response to the major earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan last month – the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security have been training for this for at least four years – Tibbot said it is important for residents to be prepared in case an earthquake happens here.

The simple, two-minute drill is self-directed, so families, businesses, schools and other organizations can take part on their own. The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to “drop, cover and hold on,” which Tibbot said should be practiced. No sirens or warnings will be broadcast during this time.

Visit www.in.gov/dhs/shakeout to sign up and find out more about the earthquake drill.

While other states will participate a week later, Indiana will “ShakeOut” on April 19 due to ISTEP testing in schools. The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is being coordinated by Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its member and associate states, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of other partners.

HOW TO CONDUCT AN EARTHQUAKE DRILL

BEFORE THE DRILL

• Talk about how you would “Drop, Cover and Hold On.” Also discuss what you would do in a car, outside and in a large venue such as a movie theater or concert hall.

• Look to see what’s in a preparedness kit.

• Determine what could be changed about your home, school, business or organization to be safer, such as moving heavy objects to lower shelves or attaching bookcases and water heaters to walls. The most common cause of injuries in an earthquake is falling items.

DURING THE DRILL

• Take cover under a desk, table or other sturdy object.

• There is an audio file that can be downloaded from the IDHS Shakeout website to play over a public-address system or in audio players. The file lasts about 60 seconds. Someone also could announce the start and end of the “earthquake.”

• Come out after the “shaking” has stopped and talk about what could have happened if surrounding objects fell on individuals.

• At the end of the discussion, evacuate.