This year’s International ShakeOut Day was Oct. 17, when millions of people worldwide participated in earthquake drills at work, school, or home. October also marks the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which devastated the Bay Area. That 6.9 magnitude shock was responsible for 63 deaths and nearly 4,000 injuries.
In the aftermath of disastrous storms on the East Coast and with wildfires still raging here in the West, Listos California, the state’s disaster preparedness program, partnered with Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media in partnership to provide vital information to help Californians be prepared in the event of an earthquake.
“Preparing can be about securing your space, having an emergency plan, minimizing your hardship after the fact by having important documents organized and in place,” said Amy Palmer, Deputy Director of Crisis Communications and Public Affairs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
While earthquakes remain unpredictable, within the next 30 years, scientists predict there is a 60% chance of a 6.7 magnitude quake hitting the Los Angeles region and a 72% chance for the San Francisco Bay region.
The experts say there are seven key safety steps to take to make sure you and your family are prepared for an earthquake:
- Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing movable items.
- Plan to be safe by creating an emergency plan.
- Organize emergency supplies in convenient locations.
- Minimize financial hardship by considering insurance and organizing important documents.
- Drop, Cover and Hold On when shaking begins.
- Improve Safety after earthquakes by evacuating if necessary or helping others.
- Reconnect and restore daily life by rebuilding community, and reconnecting with others.
“We’ve had a number of quakes this year where our system of statewide sensors is giving people a significant number of seconds before the shaking starts,” said Palmer. “The key for everyone in California is to make sure that you know the phrase: ‘drop, cover, and hold on’ so that you can take action when you get an alert on your phone, or you feel the very first indications of shaking.”
To further educate and prepare Californians for earthquakes, Cal OES hosted a tour focused on providing life-saving earthquake preparedness tips including a simulator that can demonstrate the power of up to a 7.0 magnitude quake.
“You need to take action upon feeling shaking or receiving an earthquake early warning alert and that means truly drop, cover, hold on,” said Jose Lara, Chief of the Seismic Hazards Branch at Cal OES. “We really encourage you to practice that on your own with your all types of settings. Because without this muscle memory when shaking arrives at your location, you may not take that protective action that you need to stay safe.”
There are also several ‘myths’ about earthquake survival the campaign aims to dismiss. One is that standing in a doorway is a safe measure during an earthquake. This is NOT a safe measure due to modern building codes that have strengthened other areas in homes and commercial buildings. Another myth is that running outside is safer during an earthquake. Due to the danger of falling objects that could strike you on the way out, running outside is not encouraged.
“I think that is the human instinct to get out from a building that you may think is collapsing. But the scientists would say, don’ t run outside, stay where you are, drop, cover and hold on,” said Palmer.
If you find yourself driving during an earthquake, best practice is to pull over safely if you can and wait out the shaking inside of your vehicle while looking out for debris falling onto roadways in mountainous areas.
The MyShake App is another pivotal tool in the state’s effort to prepare individuals for an earthquake. The app connects users with the Earthquake Early Warning System designed to give residents warnings seconds before shaking starts.
Some individuals receive alerts up to 20 seconds before shaking begins.
