Drop, Cover, Suspension: Earthquake Safety

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Southeast Mo. (KFVS) — It’s been 211 years since large earthquakes in New Madrid, Missouri were felt across the country.

Emergency management leaders say preparedness is key.

“We can see rivers rise as a result of a flood, we can see hurricanes develop, and earthquakes can happen instantly,” said Robby Myers, director of emergency management for Butler County.

You never know when an earthquake will happen, Myers said, but it is important to be educated.

“Just preparing people for it, a lot of it is just preparing people for any disaster,” Myers said.

Come up with one important question to ask yourself: What do you need to survive three days if you can’t go out and get anything else?

“Disaster kits, ready-to-go kits, will enable you to get by for at least two weeks before you can get help,” said Jeff Grunwald. He is the director of the New Madrid Historical Museum. He said smaller communities like his are becoming increasingly self-sufficient.

“If something happens, we’re probably equipped to endure at least two weeks before help gets here,” Grunwald said.

Having a plan is key to any disaster, Myers said.

“Make sure your family has a communications plan, they have an emergency kit with three days’ worth of food and water, medicines your family takes, and maybe even some stock,” he said.

But during an earthquake, the director of emergency management said the best course of action is to drop in, cover and wait.

“If you’re in bed, stay there. If you’re inside, you should wait for the shaking to stop. If you’re in your car, you should stop and try to find a safe place.”

Although they don’t expect a major earthquake to happen anytime soon, they say it’s a fact of life here.

“In our lifetime, we’re going to feel some tremors right here in the heart of the country,” Myers said.

New Madrid is the most seismically active area in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

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