"ShakeOut" Drill Schedule for McKinley Elementary School in Norman

McKinley Elementary School students and staff will “Drop, Cover and Hold On” Thursday morning as part of a national earthquake drill. Nearly 20 million people across the country have signed up to participate in the Great U.S. ShakeOut this week.

The event is provided by Norman Public Schools, McKinley Elementary, Norman Emergency Management, Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and the Oklahoma Geological Survey.

In Oklahoma, more than 77,000 people have signed up to participate in the drill, including 170 Oklahoma schools, government agencies, health facilities, businesses and other organizations. Many will participate Thursday, October 19 at 10:19 a.m., however, individuals, families, organizations and businesses may choose to participate at other times.

During the ShakeOut, participants will drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to the table for about 60 seconds until the exercise ends. Experts say this is the best method of protection during an earthquake, since the primary threat for injury during an earthquake in the U.S. is falling debris and toppling objects, like bookcases and heavy electronics, rather than structural collapse.

To learn more or to participate in the ShakeOut drill, visit www.shakeout.org/centralus.

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