Carl Junction kids learn earthquake safety during international drill

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carl Junction students take part in an international drill aimed at dangers from below the earth's surface.

At 10:17 Thursday morning, these students at Carl Junction's 2nd and 3rd grade primary building joined millions of others across the world in International ShakeOut Day. The drill is part of preparing students in the event of an earthquake. While we may not associate earthquakes with the Midwest, "ShakeOut.org" says earthquakes have been noted in Missouri as far back as 1795. In fact, a magnitude 2.4 earthquake was detected just 60 miles east of St. Louis on September 26.

A major earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone... running through Missouri's Bootheel... would be felt in every state east of the Rocky Mountains. CJ district administrators say in their drills, they tell kids the best option is to get outside, away from any buildings or structures that could collapse.

If they're inside, look for something sturdy, like a desk to get under.

"The safety of our students is our number one priority, because in the end, education is super important, and the academic procedures we put in place are important, but the number one job for us as a building is to ensure that when parents drop their kids off, that their students are safe," said Jake Stevenson, CJ Primary 2-3 Principal.

"ShakeOut.org" says more than 445,000 people were part of drills in Missouri Thursday. They were joined by another 10,000 in Kansas and 42,000 in Oklahoma.