Arizona To Hold Statewide Earthquake Drill

By Holliday Moore
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
Published: Monday, October 15, 2018 - 3:31pm

It turns out Arizona is earthquake country, especially if you live in the state's southwest region.

We're not quite like California, but research shows the risk is great enough to hold a statewide earthquake drill this upcoming Thursday.

According to the Arizona Geological Survey, Arizona experiences about 100 earthquake events every year with the majority unfelt.

Faults run underneath Flagstaff and Tucson with the potential to produce 6.0 or greater magnitude quakes. And, in Yuma, the risk is even greater, sitting 50 miles from the San Andreas Fault line.

"Most of the buildings, especially if they're newer buildings, they're not going to collapse," assured Michael Conway, the senior geologist at AGS.

"You don't have to worry about them 'pancaking' on you," he said. "What you do have to worry about is all the stuff on the ceiling, all the stuff, books on the shelves, the glasses, everything else, coming down and hitting on the floor."

The state Department of Emergency and Military Affairs will hold the "earthquake preparedness drill" at 10:18 Thursday morning at public schools.

Children will learn to drop to the ground, take cover and protect their head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.