‘Great ShakeOut’ on Oct. 20 offers opportunity to practice safety
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The annual Great ShakeOut is giving people the opportunity to practice earthquake safety skills communitywide.
Thursday, Oct. 20 is International ShakeOut Day! In California.
It’s part of the Great ShakeOut, a worldwide earthquake safety movement now in its 15th year that encourages people to practice how to protect themselves during shaking to reduce injuries and even loss of life.
The ShakeOut continues to support earthquake safety and overall preparedness within schools, businesses, organizations, communities and households.
As participation can be any day of the year, people and organizations can still register drills to be held in coming months at the ShakeOut website.
After two years of COVID, participation is rebounding. Organizers said 44 million people worldwide are participating in earthquake drills in 2022, including more than 18 million Americans holding drills on International ShakeOut Day on Thursday, an increase of more than 2.3 million compared to 2021.
In California, 9.6 million people are taking part, including 65,576 on the North Coast.
In Lake County, approximately 9,734 people are taking part in the ShakeOut, including more than 8,200 in schools, nearly 1,200 in government and almost 200 in health care.
"California is no stranger to natural disasters, like earthquakes," said Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. "That's why it's important Californians have the life-saving information they need to be prepared before the next seismic event."
ShakeOut participants practice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" and other recommended earthquake safety actions for a variety of situations — if you're near a sturdy desk or table, in a stadium or theater, along the coast, driving a car, in bed, or if you have a mobility disability.
Many ShakeOut participants also secure items that could fall or fly, assemble disaster kits and other aspects of the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety.
“In 2008, the Earthquake Country Alliance organized the first Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill as a one-time event in Southern California,” said Mark Benthien, Global ShakeOut coordinator and outreach director for the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California. “We had no idea that it would grow statewide, then across the country, and around the world.”
Benthien added, “ShakeOut is a way to increase community resilience at all levels," said Benthien. "Earthquakes can be sudden and violent, but if we have taken steps to prepare ourselves, those around us, and the structures we live, work, and study in, we can greatly reduce their effects.”
Know how to protect yourself during shaking, whether it may occur where you live, work, or travel.
If you use a mobility device, learn how to "Lock, Cover, and Hold On" at EarthquakeCountry.org/accessibility.
Any shaking felt along the coast could mean a tsunami is imminent, so get to know your zone, and how to plan an evacuation route at TsunamiZone.org/california.
Guidance for each situation provided at https://www.earthquakecountry.org/step5/. Many also practice other aspects of their emergency plans.
Join millions worldwide practicing earthquake safety this year! Learn how and register to participate at www.ShakeOut.org.