Area students participate in Great Central U.S. ShakeOut

MALDEN, Mo. -- According to the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), nearly 2.5 million registered participants joined in on an annual earthquake drill called The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut in 2012.

This earthquake exercise has been held on the anniversary of one of the largest earthquakes to hit the United States of America, the New Madrid Earthquake of 1812. That earthquake was actually part of a series of quakes that occurred during the winter of 1811-1812 with multiple quakes being at a level 7 or greater.

CUSEC believes that were quakes of the same nature to happen today, they would have a catastrophic impact upon the region's transportation, communication, utility and financial systems.

The annual ShakeOut is an opportunity to practice procedure necessary during an earthquake.

States participating were Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. There were also hundreds of local, state, federal and volunteer joining in on the drill.

The 2013 exercise focused on three specific points of the drill which were "Drop, Cover, and Hold On".

All three aspects were practiced around Malden on Thursday, February 7.

CUSEC communicates the importance of following all three objectives of the exercise and considers them to be potentially life saving.

After dropping to the ground and taking cover under a sturdy table or desk, it is important to hold on to the object which you are under until the shaking ends.

Often only seconds are available for an earthquake victim to protect themselves. The last step of the drill is important. In the past, students have not been taught to actually hold on to something. This new phase of the drill results in additional protection. When a building is shaking extensively, items fly from shelves and walls and larger items such as copy machines or desk chairs can move a long distance in a short amount of time. If those in the room are holding on to something sturdy, they have a greater chance of not being thrown into the mix.

Students at Three Rivers College- Malden as well as students at Malden School were all part of the drill.