Ohio agencies to participate in Oct. 17 ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

Staff report

At 10:17 a.m. Thursday, emergency-management agencies throughout Ohio will join numerous schools and organizations to practice earthquake safety and Drop, Cover and Hold On.

They will be among 1.6 million people in 43 states and territories participating in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut Earthquake Drill.

The recommended response to earthquake shaking is:

Drop to the ground.

Take cover under a sturdy table.

Hold on until the shaking stops.

Earthquakes happen without warning, and earthquakes happen in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Seismic Network, which have recorded six so far his year, three in July and three in March. Ohio had four earthquakes in 2012.

The ShakeOut drill takes only two minutes, but there are things people can do before the drill to prepare, such as fastening shelves securely to walls and placing large and heavy objects on lower shelves.

To learn more about earthquake safety, go to www.ShakeOut.org/centralus.