Southeast Arkansas schools and families from Dumas to Monticello and Warren can join Arkansas’s International ShakeOut Day at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, when the state practices Drop, Cover and Hold On for earthquake safety, the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management said.
What happens at 10:15 a.m.
ADEM said participants at home, work or school will pause for the drill used in a real quake: drop to hands and knees, cover the head and neck under sturdy furniture when possible, and hold on until shaking stops. More than 29,000 Arkansans had registered as of the Oct. 1 release, joining about 1.4 million people in the Central United States and more than 50.3 million worldwide.
Why it matters in Southeast Arkansas
ADEM pointed to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which can affect eastern and central Arkansas. Desha County, Drew County and Bradley County sit in the eastern half of the state where emergency managers want households and workplaces to have a plan before a stronger event. The Dumas Clarion also flagged the statewide drill this week.
How to take part
- Register: Free signup for individuals, schools and organizations is at shakeout.org/register.
- Drill steps: Drop, Cover and Hold On at 10:15 a.m. local time on Oct. 15.
- Go further: Review family emergency plans, check supply kits and secure items that could fall.
- More tips: Earthquake Country Alliance step-by-step guidance is at earthquakecountry.org/step5.
- State geology: Arkansas Office of the State Geologist earthquake pages are at geology.arkansas.gov.
- ADEM contact: (501) 683-6700 or adem.arkansas.gov.
Sources
- Primary: International ShakeOut Day to Take Place October 15, Arkansas Department of Public Safety / ADEM, Oct. 1, 2026.
- Local notice: International ShakeOut Day to Take Place October 15, The Dumas Clarion (paywalled teaser), first seen Oct. 10, 2026.
Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Drop, Cover and Hold On drill).
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