Boone County, MO Government

Boone County News Release

Press Archives Press Room

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Boone County Office of Emergency Management
Phone: (573) 554-7900

Annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut Set for October 17, 2019

All residents, businesses, and communities in Boone County, MO encouraged to participate.

October 8, 2019— Following FEMA’s “National Preparedness Month” in September, individuals and communities throughout Boone County will participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill. 

Held annually on the third Thursday of October, the International ShakeOut Day is set for Thursday, October 17, 2019.  During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”  Endorsed by emergency officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to: 

    DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.

    COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand.

    • If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter.
    • If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows).
    • Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs.

    HOLD ON until shaking stops

    • Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts.
    • No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups.  To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate www.ShakeOut.org. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

To date, 400,000 Missourians are registered to participate in this regional event, however Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills will also occur throughout the nation and in several countries worldwide.  More than 35 million people around the globe are expected to participate; and in addition to safety drills, many participants take extra steps to become more prepared for earthquakes or other disasters.

The Great Central ShakeOut is coordinated by the Boone County Office of Emergency Management, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of other partners. ShakeOut is coordinated globally by the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California.



###