[Press Release] : February is Earthquake Awareness Month

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Zim Schwartze, OEM Director, or Scott Smith, Public
Information Officer - (573) 874-7400

February is Earthquake Awareness Month; residents encouraged to learn
more about the dangers

COLUMBIA, MO (February 1, 2010) - In the wake of the 7.0 earthquake in
Haiti, the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
encourages residents to learn more about the dangers of potential
earthquakes in Missouri. The close proximity of the New Madrid Fault
Zone could have an impact on Columbia and Boone County. 

“If a significant earthquake strikes along the New Madrid Fault the
damage may not be significant in our area but we will feel the
impact,” says OEM Director Zim Schwartze. “An earthquake in the
6.0 to 7.0 range will cause some minimal damage in our area, but the
impact after the event will be far reaching. A large-scale recovery
effort will take place in the immediate quake zone of southeast
Missouri, an effort which will also include resources from our region. A
major New Madrid earthquake will also have some immediate economic
effect, as thousands will be without electricity, water and other basic
needs.”

Schwartze stresses that earthquake preparation should not exclusively
focus on New Madrid. “A 5.4 quake, with the epicenter 320 miles away
in Vincennes, Indiana, was felt here in mid-Missouri in April of 2008.
In addition, there have been a number of small earthquakes in southern
Missouri in the past two years which are not related to New Madrid.
Earthquakes can strike with no warning and can happen in places which
have not experienced them before. We ask the public to learn more about
earthquakes, their potential impact, and what they can do before, during
and after such a disaster.”

The Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management has a number
of publications available, including those that address earthquakes.
Links to that information can be found online at
www.GoColumbiaMo.com/EM.

Earthquake Facts
●	It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in
the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause
damage.

●	Some of the most powerful earthquakes in United States history
occurred along the New Madrid fault in late-1811 early 1812. At least
two major quakes are estimated to have registered an 8.0 or higher on
the Richter scale, with an estimated 2,000 aftershocks in a period of
several months. 

●	During the biggest earthquakes along the New Madrid fault in
1811 and 1812, church bells rang in Boston, Massachusetts and Toronto,
Canada. Sidewalks were reported to have been cracked and broken in
Washington, D.C., while there were also reports of toppled chimneys in
Maine. 

●	New forecasts estimate a seven to ten percent chance of a repeat
of a major earthquake like those that occurred in 1811 and 1812, within
the next 50 years. In that same time span, there is a 25 to 40 percent
chance of a magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquake.

●	Minor earthquakes occur along the New Madrid Fault on an almost
weekly basis. Most register no higher than a 2.5 on the Richter scale. 

●	The largest recorded earthquake in the United States was a
magnitude 9.2 that struck Prince William Sound, Alaska on Good Friday,
March 28, 1964

●	Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state. Alaska experiences a
magnitude 7 earthquake almost every year, and a magnitude 8 or greater
earthquake on average every 14 years.

Earthquake Safety
(Information provided by the American Red Cross)
Prepare a Home Earthquake Plan
●	Choose a safe place in every room--under a sturdy table or desk
or against an inside wall where nothing can fall on you. 
●	Practice DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON at least twice a year. Drop
under a sturdy desk or table, hold on, and protect your eyes by pressing
your face against your arm. If there's no table or desk nearby, sit on
the floor against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall
furniture that could fall on you. Teach children to DROP, COVER, AND
HOLD ON! 
●	Choose an out-of-town family contact. 
●	Consult a professional to find out additional ways you can
protect your home, such as bolting the house to its foundation and other
structural mitigation techniques. 
●	Take a first aid class from your local Red Cross chapter. Keep
your training current. 
●	Get training in how to use a fire extinguisher from your local
fire department. 
●	Inform babysitters and caregivers of your plan. 

Prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit for Your Home and Car:
●	First aid kit and essential medications. 
●	Canned food and can opener. 
●	At least three gallons of water per person. 
●	Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags. 
●	Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries. 
●	Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members. 
●	Written instructions for how to turn off gas, electricity, and
water if authorities advise you to do so. 

Know What to Do When the Shaking Begins
●	DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON! Move only a few steps to a nearby safe
place. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to
exit. Stay away from windows. In a high-rise building, expect the fire
alarms and sprinklers to go off during a quake. 
●	If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head
with a pillow. 
●	If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings,
trees, and power lines. Drop to the ground. 
●	If you are in a car, slow down and drive to a clear place (as
described above). Stay in the car until the shaking stops. 
Identify What to Do After the Shaking Stops
●	Check yourself for injuries. Protect yourself from further
danger by putting on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes, and
work gloves. 
●	Check others for injuries. Give first aid for serious injuries.

●	Look for and extinguish small fires. Eliminate fire hazards.
Turn off the gas if you smell gas or think it's leaking. (Remember, only
a professional should turn it back on.) 
●	Listen to the radio for instructions. 
●	Expect aftershocks. Each time you feel one, DROP, COVER, AND
HOLD ON! 
●	Inspect your home for damage. Get everyone out if your home is
unsafe. 
●	Use the telephone only to report life-threatening emergencies. 
- 30 -
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