Skip to Main Content

Media Alert: Maryland Schools Invited To Participate In 'Great Shakeout' Earthquake Drill

Program Spotlights Earthquake Safety

For Immediate Release                                                        Contact: William Reinhard, 410-767-0486

Baltimore, MD (October 15, 2014)

Maryland schools are invited to participate tomorrow in the 2014 Great SouthEast ShakeOut, part of the largest earthquake drill in history.

The drill is part of the Great ShakeOut, a national effort to spotlight earthquake safety.  The Great ShakeOut drills began in California in 2008, but the August 23, 2011 earthquake in Mineral, VA, proved that such safety exercises are important throughout the nation.

The drill is simple, but the importance is great.  Students and school personnel are being asked to:

  • DROP to the Ground
  • Take COVER under a table or desk, and
  • HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

The Maryland Center for School Safety, Maryland State Fire Marshal, Maryland Emergency Management Administration, and MSDE are coordinating efforts for the Great SouthEast ShakeOut.  Schools in Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Dorchester, Frederick, and Washington counties have already announced their participation.

What:             Great SouthEast ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

When              10:16 a.m., Thursday, October 16

More              http://mema.maryland.gov
Information:  http://www.shakeout.org/southeast

 ###