Does everyone in your family know to drop, cover and hold on during an earthquake? And do you all practice at least once a year? Do you know how to safeguard your home for earthquakes? Do you have a plan and kit for any disaster? These are the ultimate goals of the ShakeOut 2014 campaign, which culminates in an annual statewide drill at 10:16 a.m. on 10/16.
“In San Diego County, wildfires are our biggest risk but earthquakes are also a hazard. Everyone should know what to do during an earthquake to avoid injuries or worse,” said Stephen Rea, assistant director of the County Office of Emergency Services. “Most of the recommended disaster preparedness steps such as collecting water and non-perishable food are the same for an earthquake as they are for a wildfire or any disaster where you might have to survive on your own without electricity, gas or running water.”
To take part in the drill, register or renew your previous registration, go to ShakeOut.org. Over the years, ShakeOut has grown to include other U.S. states and countries. With a week to go until 10/16, 10.1 million people, schools, organizations and businesses are registered in California including more than 920,000 in San Diego County. Worldwide there are more than 24 million people registered.
Why is this important? We live in earthquake country and if you don’t practice the safe thing to do, it’s easily forgotten. The ShakeOut drill asks participants to react as if an earthquake were occurring at 10:16 a.m., or whatever time or day they designate. Immediately look for the nearest and safest place to take cover in your home, schools, or business.
The most important thing is to protect your head from falling overhead fixtures, tumbling items, furniture or breaking glass. It is difficult to walk when the ground is shaking and things could fall onto you as you try to get somewhere, so wait out the shaking.
In a home, classroom or at work, the safest place may be under a sturdy table or desk. Get underneath, cover your head with one hand and use the other hand to steady yourself from the shaking.
Sometimes, however, a desk or table is not nearby so the safest place is an interior wall away from windows, overhead fixtures, wall hangings or furniture that could topple over. You can slide down in a sitting position with your back against a wall and cover your head until the shaking stops.
It is important to note that building collapses are not likely in San Diego County or in other parts of the U.S. So, it is not safer to run outside. You are more at risk of falling as you run while the ground is shaking, being hit by falling electrical lines, tree branches or building facades.
If you are outside already, you need to move away from buildings, trees and overhead power lines, then just drop and cover your head.
To learn more about earthquake risks in San Diego County and how to take further steps like securing heavy furniture, wall hangings, and items on shelves or bookcases, or creating an emergency kit, visit the earthquakes section of ReadySanDiego.org.
