Craighead County Emergency Management held earthquake drills on Thursday morning as part of International ShakeOut Day, aiming to educate residents on earthquake safety measures in a region covered by the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
The drills were conducted at 10:15 a.m. and focused on practicing essential responses to ground-shaking events, particularly the widely promoted 'Drop, Cover, and Hold On' technique.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone, which passes through southeast Missouri, northeast Arkansas, west Tennessee, and Kentucky, is the most seismically active area east of the Rocky Mountains. This fault system is known for producing a series of powerful earthquakes in 1811 and 1812, estimated at magnitudes of 7 or greater. Hundreds of smaller tremors continue to occur in the zone each year.
Anthony Coy, Director of Emergency Management for Craighead County, explained the potential significance of these smaller seismic events. “I like to think that the little earthquakes that happen on a daily basis act as a pressure relief to keep the big one from happening, maybe. But we always want people to be prepared,” Coy said.
Coy emphasized the importance of knowing how to respond to an earthquake and warned against unsafe reactions. “And generally, by that, you drop, cover, and hold on. Which, in essence, we say, get under something sturdy, and just stay there until the shaking stops. A lot of people will think, well, if I feel shaking, I’m going to run out of the building. Well, you might not make it out of the building,” he said.
Coy encouraged residents to practice this response method regularly, explaining that such drills reinforce muscle memory and can improve reaction times in the event of a real earthquake. “People don’t know how they will react until something happens,” he added. “Practicing a couple of times a year helps your body remember what to do when it counts.”
International ShakeOut Day is observed annually on the third Thursday of October, inviting individuals and communities worldwide to participate in earthquake preparedness drills and increase awareness of seismic risks.