09/05/2014
Virginians can join in multi-state earthquake drill Oct. 16
People in Virginia can learn about earthquake safety and participate in a multi-state, simultaneous earthquake drill set for Thursday, Oct. 16, at 10:16 a.m.
Whether at home, school, work or at play, participate in the ShakeOut and learn how to DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON, which is the safe response to an earthquake in the U.S.
DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you)
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops
Earthquakes happen without warning, and the shaking may be so severe that you cannot run or crawl. So DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON IMMEDIATELY. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, drop to the ground in an inside corner of the building, and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Do not try to run to another room to get under a table.
Also, during an earthquake, don’t run outside. Trying to run is dangerous because the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by falling bricks, glass and other building materials. In the U.S., you are much safer to stay inside and get under a table.
Last year more than one million Virginians took part in the Great SouthEast ShakeOut. Learn more and sign up for the Oct. 16 ShakeOut earthquake drill at www.ReadyVirginia.gov or www.shakeout.org/southeast
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management protects the lives and property of Virginia's citizens from emergencies and disasters by coordinating the state's emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery efforts