February is Earthquake Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of readiness as Illinois sits between the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. While hundreds of small earthquakes occur yearly across the United States, Illinois experienced its strongest on record on December 17, 1811—a quake so powerful it rang a church bell in Cairo, blew smoke, sand, and coal 30 yards into the air, and briefly made the Mississippi River flow backward.
If you feel an earthquake or receive an alert, IEMA-OHS urges everyone to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” This means getting on the floor, sheltering under sturdy furniture, protecting your head, and holding on until the shaking stops. Individuals using walkers or wheelchairs are advised to lock their wheels, cover up, and hold on.
Last month, a 3.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Ohlman, Montgomery County, served as a wake-up call for Illinois residents. “Thousands of people across the state felt this last quake in the early morning hours of January 20th,” said Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “It is a cautionary reminder that we sit between two seismic zones and earthquake preparedness should be an essential part of every household’s safety plan.”
IEMA-OHS also promotes participation in the national ShakeOut drill each October, encouraging residents to practice earthquake safety. For more disaster preparedness tips and detailed information on how to stay safe before, during, and after an earthquake or other emergency, visit the Ready Illinois website.