While acknowledging that earthquakes are more common in some areas, FEMA reminds the public that these events can happen anywhere and be unpredictable. According to FEMA, people living in some parts of the Midwest and the South can be just as vulnerable as those living in California and Alaska. And yet, according to the data from FEMA’s 2019 National Household Survey (NHS), those living in the Midwest and South tend to be less prepared than those who live in areas more often associated with earthquake risk. The 2019 NHS also showed that just two out of ten people know that Drop, Cover, and Hold On are the proper actions to take during an earthquake. In addition spreading awareness of this guidance, FEMA also provides a list of earthquake safety tips from its Ready Campaign. The tips include securing all items in your home (or office) that could fall and cause injuries, pulling over and stopping if you’re in a vehicle, and creating a communications plan for getting in contact with coworkers and family.

As noted in the Thursday Security and Resilience Update, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) and several states observe Earthquake Preparedness Month in February. In addition to providing information and resources about earthquake preparedness, CUSEC is promoting the National Earthquake Conference that is set to take place next month, March 4-6, in San Diego, California.