Major earthquakes are not a regular occurrence for residents of the central U.S., but several federal and State agencies across the Midwest and South would like to raise awareness to future threats posed by fault lines running through the region.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) will collaborate with dozens of other emergency management and geological agencies next month to increase awareness of these threats and instruct residents on how to stay safe in the event of a major earthquake.
Upwards of 2.4 million people will participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill in the central U.S, scheduled to take place on Oct. 15.
"The days leading up to the ShakeOut are a great time to check houses, workplaces or schools for potential earthquake hazards and to create a preparedness kit that can be used for a variety of situations, not just earthquakes," the IDHS said.
The purpose of the drill is to help raise awareness across the central U.S. and Indiana to the threat of earthquakes posed by several fault lines running through the Midwest, including the New Madrid Seismic Zone, located 180 miles southwest of Evansville, and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, which runs through southern Indiana and Illinois.
Just over 600,000 Hoosiers will participate in the ShakeOut this year, including students and faculty in Wabash County and other area organizations.
"Over the past 10 or 12 years, my experience was that we've occasionally had a few minor tremors in this area," Assistant EMA Director Bob Brown said of Wabash County's risk.
According to Brown, who has worked with the County's EMA office for many years, there is a slight risk of earthquakes and minor tremors in Wabash County, although the greater risk lies in disruptions to utilities caused by earthquakes south of the county.
Many Wabash residents, particularly those located in the southern portion of the county, rely on electricity and natural gas lines that run from southern Indiana, Brown said.
"We try to look at everything with an all-hazards situation," Brown explained. "Anything that would disrupt what we consider a normal situation for utilities and economic situations in the area. It's just like having a severe storm...we have to try to look at those things and plan for them."
Although the risk of severe storms in Wabash is much higher than that of an earthquake, Brown noted that his office includes earthquake preparedness on its agenda.
Wabash County will join Indiana and 10 other states next month in promoting survival skills and natural disaster preparedness. Other states include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kansas and Tennessee.
"Preparation is key to surviving and minimizing injuries during an actual earthquake," the IDHS said in a release this month.
According to the IDHS, Hoosiers should duck under tables or sturdy furniture in the event of an earthquake and should avoid tall buildings and power lines if outdoors. The agency recommends families and organizations create disaster kits, including water, food, first-aid supplies and clothing to be easily accessed in the event of an emergency.