By David E. Hubler
Contributor, EDM Digest
If you’ve ever experienced an earthquake, you know what a terrifying thing it can be. It’s not just the shaking that is so frightening; it’s not knowing when the shaking will end that really stirs up your fears.
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If you live on the West Coast, you could experience an earthquake at any time – from a tiny shaking that barely rattles the dishes to what could be “the big one.” That would be a tremblor equivalent to or greater than the 1906 San Francisco quake that lasted less than a minute but brought down most of the town.
However, deadly earthquakes are not limited to the U.S. West Coast, which lies on the Pacific Rim of Fire. That geological fault includes the east coast of Asia across the Bering Sea and down the length of the west coast of North and South America.
Millions of People Worldwide Practiced Drop, Cover and Hold Exercises Today
That is why almost 66 million people worldwide – from New Zealand and Japan to California, British Columbia and Alaska – practiced emergency and disaster preparedness exercises today, including how to Drop, Cover and Hold.
The State of Washington marked its annual Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills day at precisely 10:17 a.m. Pacific time Thursday, Oct. 17, or 10-17.
Registered participants included individuals, businesses, schools, faith-based organizations and community groups. They learned tips on how to get “2 Weeks Ready,” an interactive guide on how to compile emergency kits.
In addition, The Earthquake Country Alliance has a free guide called “Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety,” which starts with removing heavy, unsecured objects from top shelves to lower ones.
The guide is also featured in “Saying Safe Where the Earth Shakes,” a series of booklets available in English, Spanish and Chinese. In California, the booklets are available in a state-wide version and 10 regional versions.
Participating agencies include the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), the Washington Military Department and other first responder organizations.
Further information and emergency resources are available at the Great Washington ShakeOut resource page.
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