The 2012 Great SouthEast ShakeOut DrillCHARLOTTE, N.C.- No reports of damage from a 4.6 magnitude earthquake that rattled Maine and several New England states on Tuesday. The trembler comes as millions of people in the southeast get ready for the largest-ever earthquake drill. Andy Bobyarchick is an Associate Professor of Earth Sciences at UNC Charlotte. He says the southeast can feel aftershocks for weeks or months after a quake, "Be aware of the fact that in the Charlotte area we're within the fault range of several seismic zones." In the event of an earthquake drop, cover and hold on. Hide under a desk or get to an interior wall. Sit on the floor and cover your head. 1.5 million people in the southeast will take part in Thursday's Great SouthEast ShakeOut Drill. Program Coordinator Brian Blake says many people don't know what to do since earthquakes are not common in our region, "More people are injured by items like book shelves or appliances, refrigerators and heavy pieces of furniture falling on them." Research Geologist Dr. Wright Horton says nearly 1/3 of the country felt last last year's 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia, "From Northern Florida, to Southern Canada to west of Chicago." Dr. Horton says more people feel the affects of an earthquake on the east coast versus the west coast, even though they're more frequent there, "Compared to earthquakes in the west it's a much larger area than you would expect in a similar magnitude in California." You cannot predict earthquakes. Your best defense is to learn how to stay safe if one happens. The Great SouthEast Shake Out Drill happens at 10:18 Thursday morning. Click HERE to learn more. |
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