Drop, cover, and wait: Get 7 tips to prepare you and your family for an earthquake

Edward Henderson | California Black Media

(CBM) – This year's World Earthquake Day was October 17, when millions of people around the world 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 shock, which had a magnitude of 6.9, was responsible for 63 deaths and about 4,000 injuries.

In the wake of catastrophic storms on the East Coast and with wildfires still burning here in the West, Listos California, the state's disaster preparedness program, has partnered with Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media in a partnership to provide vital information to help Californians prepare for disasters. In case of an earthquake.

“Preparedness can revolve around securing your space, developing an emergency plan, and minimizing post-accident hardship by organizing and putting important documents in their proper place,” said Amy Palmer, deputy director of crisis communications and public affairs for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. (CAL OES).

While earthquakes are still unpredictable, within the next 30 years, scientists predict there is a 60% chance of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hitting the Los Angeles area and a 72% chance for the San Francisco Bay Area.

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 moveable items. Plan to be safe by creating an emergency plan. Organize emergency supplies in appropriate places. Reduce financial hardship by considering insurance and organizing important documents. Drop, cover and hold when it starts shaking. Improve safety after earthquakes by evacuating if necessary or helping others. Reconnect and restore everyday life by rebuilding community and reconnecting with others.

“We've had a number of earthquakes this year, and the statewide sensor system gives people a significant number of seconds before the shaking starts,” Palmer said. “The key for everyone in California is to make sure you know the phrase: ‘Drop, cover, and wait’ so you can take action when you get an alert on your phone, or when you feel the first signs 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 show the magnitude of an earthquake up to a magnitude 7.0.

“You need to take action when you feel shaking or receive an earthquake early warning alert, and that really means drop, cover and hold on,” said Jose Lara, chief of the Seismic Hazards Branch at Cal OES. “We really encourage you to practice this yourself with all your types of settings. Because without that muscle memory when the shaking hits your location, you may not be able to take the protective action you need to stay safe.”

There are also many “myths” about earthquake survival that the campaign aims to debunk. The first is that standing at the entrance is a safe measure during an earthquake. This is not a safe measure due to modern building codes that have reinforced other areas in homes and commercial buildings. Another myth is that running outside is safer during an earthquake. Due to the risk of falling objects hitting you while you are out, running outside is not recommended.

“I think that's the human instinct to get out of a building that you might think is collapsing. But scientists will say, 'Don't run outside, stay put, fall, take cover, and hold on,'” Palmer said.

If you find yourself driving during an earthquake, best practice is to stop safely if you can and wait out the shaking inside your car while looking for fallen debris on roads in mountainous areas.

The MyShake app is another pivotal tool in the state's efforts to prepare individuals for an earthquake. The app connects users to an earthquake early warning system designed to give warnings to residents seconds before an earthquake begins.

Some individuals receive alerts up to 20 seconds before the vibration begins.

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