The third Great Central United States ShakeOut is fast approaching. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is encouraging all Hoosiers to register and participate in the annual earthquake drill on Thursday, Feb. 7.

Among the nine states participating, Indiana has the most registrations with more than 227,000 as of Tuesday, Jan. 8. Total registrations are more than 791,000.

Participating in the ShakeOut takes only a few minutes and provides Hoosiers the opportunity to increase their awareness about earthquake potential in Indiana.

To participate, visit www.ShakeOut.org/centralus and pledge your family, school, business, or organization’s participation in the drill. Registered participants will receive information on how to plan their drill and how to create a dialogue with others about earthquake preparedness. All organizers ask is that participants register (so they can be counted and receive communications), and at the minimum practice “drop, cover, and hold on” at the specified time. It is only a five minute commitment. It all begins with registering, which is free and open to everyone.

The 2013 ShakeOut will be held on the anniversary of the 1812 New Madrid earthquakes. The event, organized by the Central United States Earthquake Consortium and involving the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee, will be held at 10:15 a.m.