Statement issued Monday:

Fort Wayne Community Schools will participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drill on Friday, Feb. 10.

The purpose of the event is to make sure students and staff are prepared in the event of an earthquake. FWCS has included earthquake guidelines in its Emergency Preparedness Plans for many years; this is the second time each school and department in the district will participate in an earthquake drill.

At 10 a.m. on Friday, schools throughout the district will be notified via emergency radio that there is an earthquake. Students and staff will practice the recommended earthquake safety actions:

• Drop to the ground.

• Take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table.

• Hold on until the shaking stops.

While the general public may not consider Indiana a hot zone for earthquakes, Fort Wayne residents have felt tremors in recent years. Scientists estimate there is a high probability of a damaging earthquake occurring in the central United States within the next 50 years.

The Great Central U.S.ShakeOut, which is officially set for Feb. 7, is designed to help individuals and communities in the region get ready for damaging earthquakes, practice how to protect themselves and learn how to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.