Thursday’s exercise included the participation of a lifeline helicopter, which landed and the state park, and again at Pulaski Memorial Hospital. A South Bend Swift Water Rescue Unit exercise in the Tippecanoe River had to be cancelled due to river/weather conditions. The State of Indiana K-9 Assisted Crisis Response Team was present to assist the District 2 Mental Health Team.

The exercise description stated that the earthquake occurred along an unknown fault line and that the epicenter was near the town of Winamac. The mock disaster simulated a situation where the local community was so devastated by natural disaster that outside assistance was needed to provide for essential services of fire, law, emergency medical services and rescue operations for a period of seven days.

Organizers pointed out that although this was only an exercise to practice convoying to the site of a natural disaster, the need to be prepared for many hazards, including earthquakes that might cause significant harm to Indiana communities, is real. The geology in the central U.S. is vulnerable to earthquake shaking. Indiana has several faults deep below the earth’s surface.

The largest earthquakes to ever hit North America originated deep underground along the New Madrid fault that extends southward from near Cairo, Ill. To New Madrid, Mo. A series for four gigantic quakes in 1811 and 1812 were felt in Indiana and throughout the Eastern U.S.

Although earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted, scientists say that future severe earthquake activity in the Central U.S. is probable. They add that if similar quakes shook today with the area’s increased population, the loss of life would be great, and property damage would cost billions of dollars.

There are multiple governmental, academic and private programs to prepare for future catastrophic earthquakes and to attempt to decrease the loss of life and property. Many of the first responders at Thursday’s convoy exercise will participate in the April 2011 National Level Exercise (NLE 2011 which will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the New Madrid earthquakes.

NLE 2011 will simulate an earthquake damaging southwestern Indiana and surrounding states. The District 2 first responders will practice rushing to the aid of communities to the south and southwest as part of the exercise.

More information about earthquakes and earthquake preparedness can be found at www.ShakeOut.org/centralus

Seven-County Convoy Drill: Jim Lopez (in red smock) of the South Bend Fire Department gives instructions to participants in the Indiana District 2 emergency responders drill Thursday at the Tippecanoe River State Park. About 90 emergency professionals from across north central Indiana practiced moving a convoy of emergency vehicles and personnel from Rochester to Winamac to respond to a simulated earthquake disaster. One organizer noted the seven-county drill was a valuable exercise in making preparations "outside our own backyards."