Almost a half a million ϱns are registered to participate in the annual statewide public earthquake drill, the Great ϱ ShakeOut, and with one month to go the ϱ Seismological Laboratory would like 100,000 more people registered by Oct. 18.
"We have schools participating from every county, including Clark, Washoe and several other entire school districts registered, plus the University of ϱ, Reno," Graham Kent, director of the , said. "That's a lot of students. Now we're focusing on getting their parents and their employers - whether private or government - to register and participate. Everyone in ϱ needs to have a plan and practice for an earthquake."
The Great ϱ ShakeOut is a simple, coordinated "drop, cover and hold on" exercise to be held on Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m. Last year almost 200,000 ϱns participated. To register as an individual, business, school or government agency or organization, go to . All ϱ residents are encouraged to register and participate.
Participants are instructed, wherever they are on 10/18 at 10:18 a.m.—at home, at work, at school, anywhere unless they are driving—to as if there were a major earthquake occurring at that very moment, and to stay in that position for at least 60 seconds, which is about the time it takes to register for the earthquake drill.
Great ϱ ShakeOut
What: Public earthquake drill. Drop, Cover and Hold on.
When: 10:18 on 10/18
Where: Wherever you are, except driving
Info:
"The beauty of this exercise is that it's really easy," Kent said. "It's an easy way for people to practice how to protect themselves during earthquakes. It's an action that's proven to help reduce injury and death during an earthquake. We'd like to see 600,000 participating this year and continue to keep growing the event year after year."
Now in its third year, the Great ϱ ShakeOut serves as the annual statewide earthquake drill and is held on the third Thursday of October. In 2010, ϱ was the first state to join with California in this massive effort to have people prepare and practice for earthquake response. Now there are 15 states involved in the Great ShakeOut, making this the largest public earthquake drill in the world.
Participants are also encouraged to practice other aspects of emergency plans and to "," which includes retrofitting buildings to reduce damage and securing things within that building to prevent injury.
The state of ϱ lies within the Basin and Range Province, one of the most seismically active regions in the United States. Along with California and Alaska, ϱ ranks in the top three states subject to the most large-scale earthquakes over the last 150 years.
For more information and to sign up for the drill go to the .
