The Great Southeast Shakeout

Drop, Cover and Hold On.  That's the advice of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for responding to an earthquake.  Virginia will join Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland and the District of Columbia in holding the first-ever "Great Southeast Shakeout," a multi-state earthquake drill, on Thursday, October 18th.  Government officials are encouraging schools, businesses, organizations, government agencies, communities and families to participate.

In a public service campaign, shakeout organizers point out that running to an open area or under a doorway is not necessarily the best idea.  Earthquakes can shake so violently that running is impossible.  Their advice is to drop immediately to the floor, crawl under something sturdy like a table, and hold on until the shaking stops.  Drop, Cover and Hold On.

Such preparation would have seemed unnecessary if not for the East Coast earthquake of August 23rd, 2011.  The quake was a moderate 5.8 on Richter Scale but was felt over most of the eastern U.S.  In fact, it is believed that more people felt last year's earthquake than any other in history.

For information on the Great Southeast Shakeout, visit www.VAEmegency.gov