Monroe School "drops, covers and holds on" in Great Central U.S. - WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and Radio

Millions of people across the Midwest are preparing for the next powerful earthquake from the New Madrid fault, including kids in Quincy.

Students at Monroe Elementary participated in the Great Central U.S. Shakeout earthquake drill Thursday morning.

Principal Julie Stratman says it's important the kids learn to "drop, cover and hold on", since the Tri-States are located so close to a seismic zone and earthquakes can hit at any time.

And the kids can take their lessons home and help others prepare.

"They can take what they are doing here and do it at grandma and grandpa's, when they're out at dinner, they can tell everybody at home. What's the safe way to get underneath the table or get underneath anything. How to sit, how to cover. And they have the opportunity to be teachers themselves," said Stratman.

Over 2.3 million people were officially registered to take part in the event. Organizations and schools in Illinois, Missouri, and six other states participating.

It marks the 201st anniversary of the powerful New Madrid earthquakes that rocked central and southern U.S. and reportedly made the Mississippi River flow backwards.