Southern California is OVERDUE for a major earthquake. Don't wait to prepare. In the spirit of The Great California ShakeOut, here are some vital tips on earthquake prep. More info:
SAN DIEGO – People in government offices, businesses and schools throughout San Diego County will stop everything for a minute today to “drop, cover and hold on” during a statewide earthquake preparedness drill, now in its 14th year.
“What we do to prepare now, before the this big earthquake, will determine how well we can survive and recover,” according to a statement posted to ShakeOut.org. “Great ShakeOut Earthquake drills are annual opportunities to learn and practice earth quake safety with millions of people.” The ShakeOut website said that more than 9.4 million Californians — including more than 800,000 people in San Diego County — were slated to participate in the drill as of Wednesday. During last year’s event, about 7.6 million statewide registered to take part. The exercises began in 2008. Municipalities where local government employees will be involved include San Diego, Del Mar, Encinitas, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Santee and Solana Beach. Multiple agencies in San Diego County are also signed up, including San Diego County Office of Emergency Services, San Diego County Library, San Diego Public Library, Heartland Fire Communications, Padre Dam Municipal WaterDistrict and the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. Most San Diego area community colleges and universities will be participating including U.C. San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, San Marcos Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, San Diego State University, Southwestern College and the San Diego Palomar Community College District. A majority of the county’s kindergarten through 12th grade school districts, along with private and charter schools, will have students and staff participating. According to ShakeOut.org, the objective is to emphasize precautions during a 7.8-magnitude or larger quake along the southernmost portion of the San Andreas fault. Officials say that such a tectonic shift could produce waves of movement for hundreds of miles, over four minutes. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, some 2,000 people would die, tens of thousands would be injured and more than $200 billion in damage would result. The cataclysm would have 50 times the intensity of the Jan. 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake. Hundreds of aftershocks would ensue — a few of them nearly as big as the original quake, according to the USGS. The drill in 2019 came just over three months after the early July quakes that struck Ridgecrest. The 6.4- and 7.1-magnitude shakers caused significant damage to roads and structures in the hamlet, which lies just south of the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. Californians should be prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours following a major disaster. That includes having a first-aid kit, medications, food and enough water for each member of a household to drink one gallon per day, according to local and state officials. Homeowners and renters should also know how to turn off the gas in their residences in case of leaks.
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