Duncan Schools, Businesses and Families Invited to Great American ShakeOut on Oct. 15

If you live in or around Duncan, you probably know the tornado drill routine by heart. But an earthquake drill? That’s a different story, and it’s one Duncan Emergency Management wants everyone practicing this year. The city is encouraging residents, schools and businesses to take part in the Great American ShakeOut at 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 15. It’s a chance to rehearse the steps that matter most if the ground ever really starts moving. Duncan’s location makes that rehearsal worth the few minutes it takes. The city sits near the New Madrid Fault, the Meers Fault and the Duncan-Criner Fault, which means seismic risk is part of living here, not just something you see on the news from somewhere else.

This year’s drill scenario imagines a magnitude 6.5 earthquake with an epicenter roughly 100 miles from Duncan. In some areas, the main shock would shake the ground for about 45 seconds. Aftershocks of varying strength could continue for days, and tremors could be felt up to 500 miles away. Those numbers are a reminder that the first moments of a quake are when your reaction matters most, and that reaction should be automatic.

So what do you actually do? Drop to the ground, take cover under something sturdy, and hold on until the shaking stops. Once it does, take a look around and note what’s near you, because knowing your surroundings helps you spot hazards before the next round of aftershocks. Schools, workplaces and families across the Duncan area can all join in on Oct. 15. So here’s our question for you: where would you drop and cover in your own home right now? Let us know in the comments.