Multi-state earthquake drill to be held Tuesday

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Updated: February 2, 2012 11:22PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Department of Homeland Security wants Hoosiers to take part in an earthquake drill that will be conducted throughout the central United States on the 200th anniversary of the 1812 New Madrid earthquakes.

The state is encouraging residents to register online and participate Tuesday in the 2012 Great Central United States ShakeOut. They say it takes five minutes.

Those who register at www.ShakeOut.org/centralus will receive information on how to plan a drill and how to tell others about earthquake preparedness. Organizers ask that participants register and at the minimum practice “drop, cover and hold on” at 10:15 a.m.

More than 600,000 Hoosiers and 3 million overall registered for the 2011 Great Central US ShakeOut.

The event includes Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.