COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
South Carolina's next big earthquake is not a matter of if, but when according to state emergency management officials.
That's why they've teamed up with four states and the District of Columbia for the first ever Great Southeast Shakeout.
While we're in the midst of an annual Earthquake Awareness Week, this is the first time for the Great Southeast Shakeout, which occurred Thursday morning at 10:18.
South Carolina's Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) asked folks across the state to drop, cover and hold on. Participants held the position for sixty seconds as if a major earthquake had occurred.
While it may not seem like South Carolina has a reputation for earthquakes, SCEMD officials say the state experiences between 15 and 20 earthquakes a year, and was home to the most devastating earthquake in the Southeast.
"The largest earthquake ever to occur on the eastern seaboard, its epicenter was in Summerville, South Carolina," said Derrec Becker with SCEMD. "It was a 7.3 in 1886, and it was felt from Chicago to Cuba."
Between 60 and 100 people were killed and it left widespread damage across the Southeast.
The message officials are trying to send home is that when it comes to earthquakes, history has a habit of repeating itself.
"SCEMD has actually done studies to look at what would happen if we experienced a 7.3 today, and the damage totals have just multiplied," said Becker.
Emergency officials say their research shows if a similar earthquake were to happen now, it could result in 900 deaths, nearly 45,000 injuries and more than $20 billion in damage.
"Despite all of our technology, [earthquakes] still can't be predicted. We could have one tomorrow and never know it was coming," said Becker.
Becker said earthquakes happen here a lot more often than we think.
"We get earthquakes the entire year, throughout the entire South Carolina region," he added. "In fact, over the last week there's been an earthquake in every single state expect for South Carolina. However, back up to the summer we had three earthquakes in three weeks."
So how do you prepare yourself?
"We want people to remember the 4 P's: emergency planning for people, pets and property," said Becker.
He adds one thing to double check: your homeowner's insurance policy.
"Not a lot of companies offer earthquake insurance," said Becker. "There are companies out there who do offer or provide earthquake insurance, it just depends on the threat in their area, but that's always an important part to think about in any disaster planning."
1.6 million people registered for the Great Southeast Shakeout drill Thursday.
For more information about the Great Southeast Shakeout, click here.
Copyright 2012 WIS. All rights reserved.
Earthquake drill as part of Great Southeast Shakeout Thursday (Source: Mary King)
