SPRINGFIELD – On Oct 20th, more than 235,060 Illinois residents participated in the 2022 Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill, an increase of more than 7,527 residents from 2021. At 10:20 a.m. on Oct 20th, registered participants stopped what they were doing and practiced the Drop! Cover! Hold On! technique that is advised for personal protection during an earthquake. With active seismic zones flanking the state’s eastern and western border, it is important for everyone to know how to stay safe during an earthquake.

“An earthquake can happen at any time, anywhere, and without warning,” said IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “The Great ShakeOut serves as a yearly reminder of the personal protective measures that we can take in the event an earthquake strikes while we are at school, at home, at work, or while on vacation.”

IEMA also encourages families to consider creating a Two Weeks Ready preparedness plan. Being “Two Weeks Ready” means having a plan and enough supplies for you and your household to survive on your own for a full two weeks should a large disaster occur. IEMA has developed various toolkits to help families, communities, seniors and businesses adopt a Two Weeks Ready plan.

If you did not participate in Oct 20th’s ShakeOut earthquake drill, there’s still time. Visit www.ShakeOut.org to schedule your preparedness drill at a time that is convenient for you. What is most important is to practice and educate those around you about the protective measures that can save lives in the event of an earthquake.

For more information about earthquake risks and additional preparedness tips, visit https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/hazards/Pages/Earthquake.aspx