Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – As International Shakeout Day approaches, public safety officials are urging Arkansans to brush up on their earthquake preparedness procedures.
International Shakeout Day, set for later in October, is an international earthquake drill in which participants practice the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” drill, whether in their home, school, or work. The day aims to promote earthquake preparedness and ensure people know what to do if the ground starts shaking.
Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas are in a unique position regarding earthquake safety, as it sits on the New Madrid Fault Line, a fault line with a “significant chance of producing an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 or higher,” according to the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM). A 3.9 magnitude earthquake hit at least four states in late April, with many Northeast Arkansas residents feeling a “a brief but noticeable jolt.”
“It’s kind of a double-edged sword talking about earthquake safety, because people in general, in our area, are sick of hearing about the earthquake,” said Anthony Coy, Craighead County director of emergency management. “The main thing they try to convey with the [International] Shakeout Day is you can protect yourself anywhere you’re at.”
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If the ground starts to shake, people are advised to drop down low and get under something sturdy. Cover your head and neck with your arms and hold on tight until the shaking stops. If caught outside, get away from any large structures, drop, and cover your neck and head with your arms.
However, there are also things people can do to prepare before an earthquake strikes, Coy said. This includes making an emergency kit with nonperishable food, water, clothing, flashlights, and any required medication. Keeping a sturdy pair of closed toe shoes is also recommended. Have a kit for each person in the home and have a kit and plan for any pets.
Homeowners can also install automatic gas and/or water shutoffs, as after as earthquake, these lines can break or separate, Coy said. Knowing where the utility shutoffs in one’s home are also important, he noted.
People should also have a plan to communicate with family members after an earthquake hits, as phone lines may be down or overwhelmed. This can include having a portable radio on hand.
Earthquake safety and preparedness is not something to be pushed to the back of one’s mind, Coy said. Regularly reviewing emergency plans and kits is paramount to staying safe in any disaster.
“Keep it on a burner. For me to say, ‘Keep it on your front burner,’ that’s not gonna happen. But don’t push it off the stove,” Coy said. “If you’re preparing for that earthquake, you have to think about your safe spot, think about what you’re going to do afterward. But, if you’re preparing for that, anything else you prepare for should be lesser than that, and you should be well prepared for whatever may come along.”
International Shakeout Day is set for Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m. The ADEM said more than 29,000 Arkansans have registered, joining more than 50.3 million people internationally. It is free and open to anyone, and individuals and organizations can click here to register to be counted among the participants this year and receive preparedness resources access.
For more information about earthquake safety, click here. Information about earthquake safety from the Craighead County Office of Emergency Management can be accessed here. Click here for more information about seismic activity in Arkansas.
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