Drop, cover, and hold technique helps keep people safe during earthquakes

October 14, 2015

41NBC Web Producer,

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Great Shake Out Campaign aims to help people get prepared in case an earthquake hits.

Ready Georgia is hosting the South East Shake Out campaign Thursday. The organization is asking people to participate in the drop, cover and hold drill Thursday at 10:15 a.m. It’s one of the many ways you and your family can stay safe during an earthquake.

“Depending on the magnitude of the earthquake, it can cause some severe damage,” explained Interim Director of Macon-Bibb EMA Spencer Hawkins.

Hawkins said it could affect Macon’s historic buildings and infrastructure.

“Our water systems, our electrical systems can be damaged which can reduce the amount of power, electricity [and] water that we would have,” said Hawkins.

The Great South East Shake Out preparedness campaign is a way to teach people basic safety tips in case an earthquake hits.

“One of the big things that they talk about for earthquakes is called drop, cover and hold. Drop to the ground, cover yourself underneath a desk of table and hold on,” said Hawkins.

Hawkins explained people should get under something sturdy in case objects fall from the ceiling.

“There’s a ceiling fan, there’s lights, there’s ceiling tiles. They could fall down and I would rather them fall down on the desk than on top of me,” said Hawkins.

Hawkins said earthquakes aren’t common in Middle Georgia, but there are some universal safety tips that can be applied to any disaster situation:

Have a family emergency plan
Have a family disaster kit
Stay informed

“If the power gets knocked out, you’re going to need a flashlight. There’s no cable, there’s no internet. You’re going to need a radio. You’re going to need a first aid kit,” said Hawkins.

Hawkins said it’s important to always be prepared because you never know when you’ll need these tools.

“Talk to some people who live in South Carolina. They haven’t seen flooding like that in years, it’s been a long time since they’ve seen that. It happens,” explained Hawkins.

For more disaster preparedness tips click here.