Thursday, June 5, 2008

California Set to Rattle and Role This November

California residents and business owners will get a feel this November for what can happen when a major earthquake hits.

The Great Southern California ShakeOut is a week of special events featuring the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history, organized to inspire Southern Californians to get ready for big earthquakes, and to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.

An Earthquake Drill for the Record Books

At 10 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2008, millions of southern Californians will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” Why? An enormous earthquake is reportedly in the state's future, and the ShakeOut Drill is a chance to practice what to do when it happens. Individuals, families, businesses, schools and organizations will join firefighters, police officers, and other emergency responders (involved in the statewide “Golden Guardian” exercise) in the largest-ever earthquake preparedness activity.

ShakeOut is based on a potential 7.8 magnitude earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault. This type of earthquake occurs in southern California every 150 years on average, and the last was 151 years ago Dr. Lucy Jones of the U.S. Geological Survey has led a group of over 200 scientists, engineers, and others to study the likely consequences of this enormous earthquake in great detail.

In summary, the ShakeOut Scenario estimates this earthquake will cause some 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries, $200 billion in damage and other losses, and severe, long-lasting disruption. The report has regional implications and is a dramatic call to action for preparedness, and is available at www.ShakeOut.org.

The ShakeOut includes these main events:

  • ShakeOut Drill (Nov. 13)
  • International Earthquake Conference (Nov. 12-14: Presented by the City of Los Angeles - iec.lacity.org)
  • Golden Guardian Emergency Response Exercise (Nov. 13-19: Emergency mangers, fire fighters, and other first responders will practice how they will respond to this large earthquake -
  • Los Angeles Earthquake: Get Ready Rally (Nov. 14: designed by Art Center College of Design)
  • Take One More Step (Nov. 14-16: community activities to promote additional preparedness.).

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