Are you ready for that moment where you feel the Earth move under your feet, Illinois?
The state is one of nine states participating in the second annual Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill set for Tuesday. On the heels of a 2.4 magnitude earthquake that shook parts of Chicago's northern suburbs on Jan. 31, more than 400,000 Illinois residents are expected to participate in the 10:15 a.m. drill.
According to the Associated Press, the drill's goal is to raise awareness about "Drop, Cover and Hold On" procedures that should be followed in the event of an earthquake.
The procedures call for people to drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a desk or table, and hold onto it until any shaking subsides.
Gov. Pat Quinn has declared February Earthquake Preparedness Month in Illinois, stating [PDF] that the recent northern Illinois quake served as "an important reminder for people to brush up on earthquake safety, which can help save lives if a major earthquake occurs."
As of Friday, Illinois participants in the drillIllinois participants in the drill include campuses at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago State University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale and over 500 schools throughout the state.
Other states participating in the drill include Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Last year, during the inaugural Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, over 3 million people reportedly participated in the drill.