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St. Ferdinand Among Area Schools That Participated in Earthquake Prep Drills
Timed to 200th Anniversary of New Madrid Quake
(Special to the Independent News)
In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the 1812 earthquake on Missouri’s New Madrid Fault, students in Mrs. McFail’s fifth grade class at St. Ferdinand Catholic School in Florissant learned about the history of earthquakes in Missouri and how to be prepared and safe should one occur.
Geophysicist Gregory Hempen and State Emergency Management Agent Steve Besemer presented facts and tips on earthquake preparedness to the students on Tuesday morning, February 7, 2012. “The key message for students is that disasters will occur, but do not be afraid; be prepared,” said Dr. Hempen. He informed the 5th grade about the history of earthquakes in Missouri. Students learned about earthquakes, aftershocks and how magnitude is measured, as well as how to be prepared to respond safely if they experience an earthquake.
At 10:15, all St. Ferdinand students and faculty participated in an Earthquake preparedness drill, dropping to the ground, getting under the cover of their desks, and holding on. Schools throughout Missouri and other central U.S. states participated in this safety drill as part of the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut. The 10:15 time was exactly the 200th anniversary of the 1812 earthquake on Missouri’s New Madrid Fault.
The 1812 quake, the biggest ever to occur in the Midwest, had an epicenter near the Missouri Boot Heel. That great New Madrid Fault quake triggered other large quakes and many aftershocks.
Florissant Mayor Schneider also spoke to the students, noting that our area was not a state yet and was part of the Louisiana Territory that was purchased from France eight years earlier. He also let them know that St. Ferdinand Parish was 23 years old and that Government in Florissant was 26 years old at the time of the quake. The only other parishes that existed at the time of the quake were in St. Genevieve and St. Louis.
St. Ferdinand Catholic School is a member of the Federation of Catholic Schools in the Northeast Deanery, an agreement between the pastors of the eleven parishes in the Northeast Deanery of the Archdiocese of St. Louis to work more closely together in support of the mission of Catholic education in the North County community
