JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Because many Missourians live within the New Madrid Seismic Zone, one of the most active seismic zones in the country, each February Missouri observes Earthquake Awareness Month.
In 2011, the bicentennial of the beginning of the Great New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-12, Missourians will also have the opportunity to take part in the first ever "Great Central U.S. ShakeOut."
The ShakeOut, which takes place on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at 10:15 a.m., will give all Missourians the chance to practice the protective actions to take in the event of a real earthquake, "Drop, Cover and Hold On," on the same day at the same time. Seven other central U.S. states will also participate in the Shakeout.
To promote Earthquake Awareness Month and the Great ShakeOut, the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission is sponsoring the "Show-Me ShakeOut" poster contest. Elementary students across Missouri are invited to create a classroom poster promoting earthquake awareness. A statewide winner from each grade level will be selected and each winner will receive an Apple iPod Shuffle from the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission and the State Emergency Management Agency. Winning posters will be displayed on SEMA's Web site and featured at various earthquake awareness events throughout 2011.
The contest guidelines are as follows:
* Each school will select a winning poster for each of the three grade levels;
* Posters may be scanned or digitally photographed and submitted electronically in JPEG, GIF, PDF or PNG format. Schools should retain the original poster if a submission is made electronically;
* All submissions must include the name of the school, name and age of the student, name of school principal, and name of classroom teacher, and;
* All posters must be submitted to SEMA by Feb. 1, 2011, to be eligible.
The school principal or lead teacher must submit or mail poster entries to:
Steve Besemer
State Emergency Management Agency
P. O. Box 116, 2302 Militia Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65102
E-Mail: steve.besemer@sema.dps.mo.gov
Winners from each statewide grade level will be notified by March 1, 2011.
Winning results will be posted on the SEMA Web site, sema.dps.mo.gov, and announced in statewide and regional press releases.
Additional information about the ShakeOut is available at www.shakeout.org/centralus.
Additional information about the New Madrid Seismic Zone and earthquake safety is available at www.cusec.org.