The Great California ShakeOut

October 15, 2009, 10:15 a.m.

Over 6.9 million Californians participated in the largest earthquake drill ever.  In 2008 nearly 5.5 million participated.  We are high risk for earthquakes and the purpose of the drill was to practice how to protect yourself during an earthquake, as well as to practice other aspects of emergency preparedness.  We need practice to be able to react quickly in the event of an actual emergency.  This practice drill was done in homes, schools, and work places.  Let’s us all participate in 2010.

(”Triangle of Life” theory is not supported by any reputable emergency organization.)

Earthquake Myths

MYTH #1: ” Big Earthquakes Always Happen in the Early Morning!”

Earthquakes happen at all times of the day.

What To Do

Myth #2 – “Earthquake faults can open wide enough to swallow people and buildings!”

Gaping faults exist only in fiction. During an earthquake, the ground moves across a fault, not away from it. If the fault could open, there would be no friction. If there was no friction, there would be no earthquakes.

Myth #3 – “California will split apart from the United States and sink into the ocean!”

Western California is moving horizontally along the San Andreas fault (the land on both sides of the fault are converging and getting closer together), and up around the Transverse ranges (mountains to the northeast of the LA basin).  The ocean is not a great hole into which the state can fall, but is itself land at a somewhat lower elevation with water above it.

Myth #4 – “We must have good buildings because we have good building codes!”

What if buildings were built before a code was enacted?   Check if  your building has been retrofitted.

Myth #5 – “Go for the doorway when an earthquake strikes!”

Modern homes are built so that doorways are no safer than any other part of the house.  You are much safer under a table.

Myth #6 – “Everyone will panic during the big one!”

Research shows that people are prone to protect themselves and help others during and after earthquakes.

Myth #7 – “The weather is hot and dry and that means  Earthquake!

Earthquakes start many kilometers below the region affected by surface weather.

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Earthquake Safety Steps

Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety

What To Do

These steps were developed by members of the Earthquake Country Alliance and are based on many existing resources and the advice of many organizations.  Earthquake Country Alliance member have specific things they need to do before, during, and after an earthquake so as to reduce earthquake damage and injuries, and to speed recovery.  But, you need to do your part.

1.  Identify potential hazards in your home and begin to fix them.

2.  Create a disaster-preparedness plan.

3.  Prepare disaster supplies kits.

4.  Identify your building’s potential weaknesses and begin to fix them.

5.   Protect yourself during earthquake shaking- drop, cover, and hold on.

6.   After the earthquake, check for injuries and damage.

7.  When safe, continue to follow your disaster preparedness plan.