Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (FCEM&HS) is urging the community to join millions of people who will Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:17 a.m. on October 17, 2019 in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. Participating is a great way for your family, school or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from an earthquake.
Major earthquakes can happen anywhere you live, work or travel, which is why everyone, everywhere should know how to protect themselves should an earthquake occur. The goal is to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.
Drop, Cover, and Hold On is the recommended safety action should an earthquake occur. During an earthquake, individuals are advised to:
- Drop to the ground
- Take Cover under a sturdy table or desk if possible, and protect their heads and necks
- Hold On until the shaking stops
“Although Ohio is not typically known to experience damaging earthquakes, a 4.0 magnitude earthquake shook the Cleveland area just last June," said Jeffrey J. Young, Director of Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security. “The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut Drill provides the perfect opportunity to remind residents that it can happen in Ohio and they should be prepared."
To participate in the 2019 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut:
- Register at www.ShakeOut.org/centralus/register to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill and get email updates.
- Download a Drill Broadcast recording from www.ShakeOut.org/drill/broadcast
- Have a two-minute “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” drill at 10:17 a.m. on October 17th.
- You may also want to coordinate an exercise of your emergency plan.
- Update disaster supply kits.
- Discuss what you learned and make improvements.