Finding the purrr-fect place to ride out an earthquake

October 13, 2021

OMA’s Shaakti wants you to practice taking cover during the Great ShakeOut, Oct. 21

Submitted by Emergency Management Specialist Sherry Losapio. 

Happy October folks. It’s Shaakti (Shock-tee) hanging out here. I am giving Ushio (You-she-oh) the month off. The poor old girl just can’t keep up like she used to. Not only is this the time of year we like to play with the falling leaves, but did you know that it’s also the month of the Great American Shake Out? It is the region’s largest earthquake drill. 

Oct. 21, 10:15 a.m. (CDT), millions of people will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.

Why is the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” drill important? 

I think the purrr-fect place to go during an earthquake is in my cat tree but my mom doesn’t agree. During our drills, Mom helps me find the best safe places to quickly take cover.

I’ve heard my mom talk about responding quickly and requiring frequent practice. She says you may only have seconds to protect yourself (and your fur friends) in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down, or something falls on you. 

I am excited because we get to practice with millions of other people during the Great ShakeOut. I hope everyone has someone that loves them as much as my mom loves me. 

Yes, the Midwest has earthquakes too

I heard my mom, Sherry LoSapio, say that when people think of earthquakes in the United States, they tend to think of the West Coast (wherever that place is), but she says earthquakes happen in the Midwest as well. 

Mom says that earthquakes are sudden rolling or shaking events, caused by the breaking and shifting of underground rock. They occur along cracks in the earth’s surface, called fault lines, and are felt over large areas. All 50 states and five U.S. territories are at some risk for earthquakes, which can happen at any time of the year.

Did you know that until 2014, when the dramatic increase in earthquake rates gave Oklahoma the number one ranking in the contiguous U.S., the most seismically active area east of the Rocky Mountains was in the Mississippi Valley area known as the New Madrid seismic zone? Also, as recently as 2002 there was a 5.0 earthquake along this fault line in Evansville, Indiana?

How to prepare for an earthquake

My mom’s office, GSA’s Office of Mission Assurance offers the following ideas to help get your entire family engaged in preparing your home for a potential earthquake (make sure to include your fur friends in any activity, we love activities):

• Have a home “hazard hunt,” identifying items that may fall during an earthquake and work as a team to secure them. I personally love to hunt for mice in our house. 
• Create a personal or family disaster plan and include your fur friends. I have a super safe backpack that I get to hide in and take road trips in.
• Organize or refresh emergency supply kits, and check expiration dates on all items: medicines, bottled water, and food items (including pet food), medicine and treats. Don’t forget the catnip!
• Identify and correct any issues with your home’s structure. I’m not sure what structure is, but mom says it’s very important and helps the whole house to stand up.

For additional ideas on other ways to prepare, visit earthquakecountry.org. 

Thanks for paying attention and I hope you will join me at the ShakeOut. 

Stay tuned as I share some holiday preparedness tips over the next couple months. 

 

Shaakti