'Great Shake Out' Drill Prepares Students for Earthquake

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It’s been more than 200 years since a major earthquake rocked portions of the Midwest including western Kentucky. David Davis, with Kentucky Emergency Management, says there were actually a series of quakes in 1811 and 1812.

“Back in 1811, 1812 there was one in December, one in January, and one in February.  The one in February was February 7 so this is gonna be the 201st anniversary of the third big earthquake,” Davis said.

Davis says no part of the Commonwealth is immune from the threat of an earthquake.  He says a major quake like that felt in 1812 is probably still many years down the road.

“It averages about four to five hundred years, one of these really big events happen.  So, there’s no doubt it’s going to happen.  Odds are it’s probably not gonna happen in your or my lifetime, but it’s gonna happen.  And you never know, it may just decide and it could happen tomorrow,” added Davis.

This Thursday is being tabbed ‘The Great Shake Out,’ with a heavy emphasis on earthquake preparedness.  Davis says most earthquake drills will be conducted in schools across the state.