Time to drop, cover, hold on

By Mrs. Melissa Buckley (Leonard Wood)October 9, 2014

Get ready to drop, cover and hold on Fort Leonard Wood. The installation is scheduled to take part in the 2014 Great Central U.S. Shakeout or earthquake exercise drill next week.

"Although earthquakes are unpredictable, the New Madrid Seismic Zone is a concern to Fort Leonard Wood. It is a matter of when, not if, another earthquake will occur in this area. The more prepared we are now, the easier it will be during an actual incident to save lives and provide assistance," said Troy Carney, Emergency Management specialist.

At 10:16 a.m. on Oct. 16, people are supposed to respond to the mass notification and warning system simulating an earthquake.

"Fort Leonard Wood is on the outskirts of the New Madrid Seismic Zone. Our Fort Leonard Wood community must be prepared for major earthquakes, and practice how to protect ourselves when they happen. The purpose of the Great Central U.S. Shakeout is to help people and organizations do both. You could be anywhere when an earthquake strikes -- at home, at work, at school or even on vacation," Carney said.

The Army Emergency Management Program holds this earthquake drill on an annual basis. The main intent is to ensure that all units and organizations identify capability limitations and coordination issues that must be addressed ahead of an actual emergency.

Drill to net 4 million participants

"The Great Central U.S. Shakeout is a completely voluntary drill. It is a partnership of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, each participating state, Federal Emergency Management Agency and several other key organizations. This year's drill is expected to exceed 4 million volunteer participants," Carney said.

According to Carney, designated observers from numerous units, directorates and agencies will be taking notes and possibly pictures of personnel responding within their area to the earthquake.

"Good or bad, they will provide their comments on the Earthquake Evaluation Sheet to the Emergency Management Office to be compiled and sorted so that an overall snapshot of the installations preparedness can be assessed," Carney said. "Both photos and video can provide visual information that identifies strengths and weaknesses in our preparedness level. While a weakness shows areas that need improvement, visually showing a strength to others, may motivate them to prepare and participate."

Missouri earthquake history

In 1811, an earthquake struck Missouri with an intensity that hasn't been seen since. It literally rang church bells in Pennsylvania, caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards and created lakes where the day before, there were none. Four quakes over a 60-day period toppled chimneys and destroyed homes. The shock waves were felt in an area more than 1 million square miles compared to an intense California-earthquake sending waves out in roughly 6,000 square miles.

Since 1974, there have been more than 4,000 measurable earthquakes in Missouri and the neighboring states. Most are pretty mild, but more than 100 were capable of causing serious damage.

(Editor's note: Robert Johnson contributed to this story.)

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood