LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3) -- It's been more than half a century since Nevada has seen its last major earthquake.
Because Nevada is the third-most seismically active in the country, officials designated today as The Great Nevada Shakeout, an event to prepare residents for the next big one.
The key to this safety drill are drop, cover and hold on. They are three simple words to remember, and they are crucial steps to staying safe and alive in the case of an earthquake.
Students at the Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy took part in the Shakeout.
Safety groups say southern Nevada is prone to a large earthquake sooner or later. The state sits on a few fault lines and has plenty of smaller quakes.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the Las Vegas valley has a 35 percent chance of an earthquake with a Magnitude 5.0 within the next 50 years.
Junior high student Mary Lu Solis says she's taking this safety lesson seriously.
“Because if they're not prepared, then they should go on the Internet and look up different ways to be safe at home, or outside so they can all be prepared,” she said.
Because Nevada is seismically active, things such as building codes are built for earthquakes.
