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February 6, 2013

Great Central Shakeout set

Transcript Staff The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — The American Red Cross is inviting the nation to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” for the 2013 Great Central U.S. Shakeout this week.

The drill will be 10:15 a.m. Thursday and is designed to prepare individuals, families and organizations to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes.

“As with anything, to act quickly, you must practice often. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down or something falls on you,” states a Red Cross press release.

Earthquakes can happen at work, where you live or where you’re traveling. Forty-five states and territories in the U.S. are at moderate to high risk of earthquakes, and they are located in every region of the country.

An earthquake is defined as a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the breaking and shifting of rock beneath the earth’s surface.

“Doorways are no stronger than any other part of the structure. During an earthquake, get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on. This will provide some protection from falling objects that can injure you during an earthquake,” the release states.

The goal of the drill is to prevent disasters from being catastrophes.

Some tips the Red Cross suggests when encountering an earthquake includes:

· Drop, cover and hold on. Move as little as possible.

· Stay away from windows to avoid being injured by shattered glass.

· Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. Use stairs after shaking stops instead of elevators in case of aftershocks, power outages or other damages.

· If you are outdoors, find a clear spot and drop to the ground until the shaking stops. Stay away from buildings, powerlines, trees and street lights.

· If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible.

· If a power line falls on your vehicle, do not get out. Wait for assistance.

For more information visit www.shakeout.org/

centralus or visit RedCross.org. A free American Red Cross Earthquake App for Smartphones alsio is available.

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