On Thursday, October 17, Canadian County residents are encouraged to join more than 12 million people worldwide as they “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in an annual earthquake drill. The event is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on Thursday.
In recent years Oklahoma has seen more earthquake activity, including a record-breaking 5.6 magnitude earthquake in 2012. The ShakeOut exercise is designed to help Oklahomans be better prepared in the event that a strong earthquake occurs in the state.
During the ShakeOut, participants will drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to the table for about 60 seconds until the exercise ends. Experts say this is the best way to protect yourself during an earthquake, since in the U.S. the primary threat for injury during an earthquake is falling debris and toppling objects, like bookcases and heavy electronics, rather than structural collapse.
Individuals, schools and businesses are encouraged to participate in the ShakeOut exercise by registering online at www.shakeout.org/centralus. Registered participants will receive information about how to plan their drill.
Please visit our webpage at www.canadiancounty.org for more information
Jerry Smith, Director
Emergency Management
Canadian County
