Hazelwood Fire Department Joins Multi-State Effort to Prepare Students, Faculty and Community for Earthquakes

On April 28, the partnered with
the and the American Red Cross in helping local school children, faculty and the community prepare for earthquakes. They participated in the a public earthquake drill involving eleven states in the New Madrid Seismic Zone and more than three million Americans in K-12 schools, colleges, universities and businesses throughout the region.

Students and teachers at and in Hazelwood participated in an earthquake preparedness assembly the American Red Cross' disaster relief
experts conducted.

The first lesson they learned was to drop, cover and hold on method. They were instructed to use this technique for the region’s first multi-state earthquake drill. Everyone was told to drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk, and hold on to something sturdy for at least 60 seconds, which is the duration of most major earthquakes.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano were the ones who initially called on schools, colleges and universities to participate in this April Earthquake Drill, which occurred at 10:15 a.m.

They co-signed a letter that was sent to every school and institution of higher education in the central U.S., where many states would be
impacted if a major earthquake hit the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

“As adults, it’s our responsibility to make sure students are prepared, both at home and in school, for a possible emergency,” Secretary Duncan said. “The ShakeOut drill is an important exercise for parents,
students, teachers and school leaders across the country. I hope it encourages more schools to develop, implement, and evaluate emergency plans.”

Hazelwood Emergency Management has the responsibility of helping the save lives, minimize injuries, protect property, preserve a functioning civil government, and maintain economic activities essential to the community’s survival and recovery from a natural disaster.

This organization worked in cooperation with the Hazelwood Fire Department, Hazelwood School District and the American Red Cross in setting up these school assemblies at and for the “Great ShakeOut” event. It also encouraged all city employees to take part in this public earthquake drill.