Mississippi holds statewide earthquake drill

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is encouraging residents to participate in the national ‘Great ShakeOut’ earthquake drill on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 10:15 a.m. MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney noted that while earthquakes may not be the primary concern for Mississippians, they represent a real hazard to the state.

Participants are encouraged to practice three essential safety actions: dropping to the ground, taking cover under a sturdy desk or table to protect the head and neck, and holding on until the shaking stops. Approximately 296,000 people in Mississippi have registered for the exercise.

Although recent earthquakes centered within the state have been infrequent, MEMA officials highlighted that Mississippi is impacted by seismic activity from neighboring regions, specifically the New Madrid seismic zone. Recent recorded activity includes a 2.5-magnitude earthquake in Madison County in late 2024 and another in the Booneville area in December 2022.