ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - This Thursday, the St. Louis area will participate in the annual Great Central Shake-Out, a series of earthquake preparedness drills at schools, business, and elsewhere.

Missouri’s Emergency Management Agency Program Director Steve Besemer says people cannot be forced into a false sense of security because it has been 200-plus years since the last major earthquake hit the area.

“We certainly have the potential to have one of these happen again, basically at any time. We have to keep trying to tell people to be prepared, be prepared. It might be something that you never use but with earthquakes you don’t get any sort of warning, you need to prepare ahead of time,” he said.

Besemer advises residents to make a plan, have a designated place to meet with family, and know how you will contact them in case you cannot get back to your home.

“Be thinking about stocking up on supplies ahead of time and certainly for those who have been through some of the ice storm situations and the power outages in the St. Louis area who remember that from a few years ago, if you can stock up and kind of have a convenient place to get to with blankets and pillows,” he said.

Other tips: always keep a battery-powered, or cranked radio, so you can receive information. Also, keep canned goods and bottled water on hand.