Great “ShakeOut” Annual Earthquake Drill coming Oct. 15

JEFFERSON CITY – Recent disasters in Indonesia and Colombia underscore the devastating power of earthquakes.

They also serve as a stark reminder that one of the country’s most active earthquake zones is right here in Missouri. In 1811-12, the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), centered in southeast Missouri, produced some of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history, infamously known for causing the Mississippi River to run backward. Similar earthquakes today would cause major damage and destruction, especially with modern infrastructure more than two hundred years later. 

“Many people do not realize that Missouri is home to a large, active seismic zone in the Bootheel,” State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Director Jim Remillard said. “So far in 2026, there have been 110 small earthquakes in our state – the most recent on Sunday.

"While these are generally under 2.0 magnitude earthquakes and not felt by most people, the ShakeOut drill is a great opportunity to practice three simple actions so you’ll know what to do when an earthquake occurs, which can happen without warning.”

Studies show that in developed countries with modern structures, falling debris is the most common source of injury in an earthquake. Experts advise that when an earthquake occurs in the U.S., the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” technique is the best protection from falling debris.

To prepare for future earthquakes, registration is open for the 2026 Great ShakeOut earthquake drill on Thursday, Oct. 15. Missouri is one of 14 participating central U.S. states that could be impacted by an earthquake in the NMSZ.

At 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 15, hundreds of thousands of Missourians will practice the “Drop, Cover, Hold On” technique:

• DROP to your hands and knees;

• COVER your head and neck with your hands and arms under a table or desk if you can; and

• HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

To register for the ShakeOut, go to shakeout.org/centralus. Schools, businesses, community organizations and other groups – as well as families and individuals – can all register. After registering, participants will receive regular updates about the drill and information on earthquake preparedness and safety. This year, SEMA will issue certificates via email to registered participants who complete the three-step drill. 

The NMSZ is one of the nation's most active earthquake zones, averaging more than 200 small quakes per year. A major earthquake in this zone would be felt not only in Missouri but across the Midwest, potentially causing damage in the southern and eastern parts of the state, including the St. Louis metropolitan area. To learn more about earthquakes in Missouri and how to prepare, please visit sema.dps.mo.gov/earthquake_preparedness.

For ShakeOut graphics and other resources, please visit shakeout.org/messaging. To find participating schools and other organizations in your area, as well as the current statewide registration total, visit the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut – 2026 Missouri Participation Totals