Kindergarteners and first graders at Margaret Daniel Primary learned about safety during earthquakes as they participated in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut on Tuesday, Feb. 7. At 10:15 a.m. the students, along with more than 2.3 million other people throughout the central United States, practiced "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" as part of the advised safety actions in case of an earthquake.
February 7 was the 200th anniversary of the last of the powerful earthquakes that shook the central United States with at least three magnitude 7.0 or greater earthquakes in the winter of 1811-12, destroying the town of New Madrid, Missouri, and creating the Reelfoot Lake in northwest Tennessee. Should earthquakes of the same magnitude occur today, widespread damage and disruption would be expected due to the greater population and increased infrastructure of our more modern landscapes.
The recent dramatic, unexplained increase in seismic activity in the eastern Oklahoma-western Arkansas area has created a greater awareness among citizens, with the magnitude of the Nov. 2011 foreshock, earthquake, and aftershocks in Sparks, Oklahoma (44 miles northeast of Oklahoma City) measuring from 4.0 to 5.6 and being felt across seven states, including Arkansas.
The goal of the ShakeOut is to create a greater sense of awareness and encourage action towards becoming better prepared in order to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes. To learn more about the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, visit www.ShakeOut.org/centralus.
