ILLINOIS — In recognition of the earthquake risk in Southern Illinois from the New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic zones, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and local emergency management agencies will promote earthquake preparedness throughout February. 

Officials say that they can’t predict when the next major earthquake will occur but can help people learn how to stay safe and reduce damage to their homes. 

In conjunction with Earthquake Preparedness Month in Illinois, IEMA is adding a new 30-second TV spot to the Ready Illinois broadcast preparedness campaign, which is aired in cooperation with the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) Public Education Partnership (PEP) program.

The new spot directs people to the Ready Illinois website for information on how to prepare their homes for an earthquake.

Most casualties during earthquakes result from falling objects and debris caused by the earth shaking and not the actual movement of the ground. More information about earthquake preparedness is available at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.