More than 78,000 Oklahomans will practice what to do during an earthquake Thursday, Oct. 19, at 10:19 a.m.
"As an Okie, you know, growing up, we were taught during tornadoes at school to get in a crouching position and put your hands over your neck," said Melinda Belcher, who is leading an earthquake drill at the Community Service Council. "And I've noticed a lot of similarities with an earthquake drill, except you need to get under a desk or a table and assume the same position but use the other arm to hold on to something."
In all, 14 states and more than 2.6 million people are participating in simultaneous earthquake drills as part of the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.
The drill is easy: Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck with one arm and hand while crawling under a sturdy table or desk nearby, and hold on — either to your shelter with one hand or to your head and neck with both arms and hands if you’re without shelter.
Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths are caused by collapsing buildings or falling objects.
"Earthquakes are pretty new to Oklahoma and we are seeing a heightened frequency, so we need to be ready in case something big happens," Belcher said.
Schools, day cares and all kinds of places should practice what to do during an earthquake, because they can happen at any time.
"You don't need to have a certain date to do any drill for earthquakes, fire, tornado — you should do that at any time and do that not only at work but at home as well," Belcher said.
The U.S. Geological Survey says central Oklahoma has about the same chance of damaging quakes this year as high-hazard areas of California.
