Reminder: ShakeOut Drills On Oct. 18th

 

# 6632

 

 

On Wednesday of this week more than a million residents of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia have pledged to take part in the inaugural launch of their The Great Southeast Shakeout.

 

They join a growing list of other states and regions who conduct this yearly earthquake drill, which instructs people how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On during a quake.

 

A video, demonstrating the technique is available on the California Shakeout Youtube Channel.

 

This year, there are 14 Shakeouts scheduled across the United States and around the world, with the bulk of them set for  10:18 a.m. on October 18th.

 

For details on when the Shakeout Drill is being held in your area - and how you or your organization can participate - click the map below:

If you live in any of these regions, I would encourage you to participate in, and support, these annual disaster drills.

 

As the map below indicates, much of United States is seismically active – with Alaska, Hawaii, the west coast, and the Midwest seeing the most – and strongest, quakes.

 

USGS map

 

Last year, in Estimating The Economic Impact Of A San Andreas Quake, we looked at a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that endeavored to gauge the crippling impact that a highly feasible (and long overdue) 7.8 magnitude Southern California earthquake would have on jobs and local businesses.

 

Download PDF file

A quake of this magnitude, they estimate, could affect  430,000 businesses and 4.5 million workers and deliver a devastating – and prolonged – blow to the local economy.

 

While huge death tolls are considered unlikely in this scenario, the untimely demise of thousands of unprepared businesses is all but assured.

 

One of the most vulnerable areas to earthquakes (and tsunamis) in North America is the Pacific Northwest, where just over 311 years ago an earthquake and tsunami – likely on par with this year’s disastrous quake in Japan - struck the coastline.

 

 

You’ll find a greater description of this event, along with videos and simulations showing what a similar event today would produce, in my essay Just A Matter Of Time.

 

Since we can’t prevent earthquakes, or predict them, the only recourse is to prepare for them . . .  as individuals, businesses, and communities.

For a comprehensive guide on how you can prepare for `the big one’ (even if you live someplace other than Los Angeles), I would recommend you download, read, and implement the advice provided by the The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.

 

Everyone should have a disaster plan.  Everyone should have a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

For more on  disaster preparedness, I would invite you to visit:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

»» Read More

NPM12: A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Going On

Note: This is day 11 of National Preparedness Month.  Follow this year’s campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NPM or #NPM12 hash tag.

 

This month, as part of NPM12, I’ll be rerunning some updated  preparedness essays (like this one) , along with some new ones.

 

# 6548

 

The Great California Shakeout drill, which began in 2008, has now generated 15 spinoffs around the world, and most of those drills are scheduled for the month of October.

 

 

(click image to visit Shakeout.org)

Millions of residents, from the United States and Canada, to New Zealand, Italy, and Japan, will take part in this yearly Drop, Cover, & Hold On drill. A video, demonstrating the technique is available on the California Shakeout Youtube Channel.

 

 

If you live in any of these regions, I would encourage you to participate in, and support, these annual disaster drills.

 

As you can see by the map below, much of United States is seismically active – with Alaska, Hawaii, the west coast, and the Midwest seeing the most – and strongest, quakes.

USGS map

Last year, in Estimating The Economic Impact Of A San Andreas Quake, we looked at a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that endeavored to gauge the crippling impact that a highly feasible (and long overdue) 7.8 magnitude Southern California earthquake would have on jobs and local businesses.

 

Download PDF file

A quake of this magnitude, they estimate, could affect  430,000 businesses and 4.5 million workers and deliver a devastating – and prolonged – blow to the local economy.

 

While huge death tolls are considered unlikely in this scenario, the untimely demise of thousands of unprepared businesses is all but assured.

 

One of the most vulnerable areas to earthquakes (and tsunamis) in North America is the Pacific Northwest, where just over 311 years ago an earthquake and tsunami – likely on par with this year’s disastrous quake in Japan - struck the coastline.

 

You’ll find a greater description of this event, along with videos and simulations showing what a similar event today would produce, in my essay Just A Matter Of Time.

 

Since we can’t prevent earthquakes, or predict them, the only recourse is to prepare for them . . .  as individuals, businesses, and communities.

For a comprehensive guide on how you can prepare for `the big one’ (even if you live someplace other than Los Angeles), I would recommend you download, read, and implement the advice provided by the The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.

 

 

Everyone should have a disaster plan.  Everyone should have a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

For more on  disaster preparedness, I would invite you to visit:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

»» Read More

The Great Utah ShakeOut

 

# 6287

 

 

Later today (April 17th), Utah will stage their very first ever Great Utah Shakeout drill, where nearly 1 million Utahns will practice the `Drop, Cover and Hold On’ technique across the state.

 

This drill is based on the very successful Great California ShakeOut, which has spawned other drills in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest (see A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Goin' On).

 

The USGS map below shows that most of the United State’s population lives in a seismically active region.

While California has the biggest reputation for earthquakes, the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Eastern Seaboard, and a number of western states (including Utah) are not immune.

 

BeReadyUtah.gov has produced a 5 minute video showing what the aftermath of a strong quake in Utah would be like.

 

If you are living in Utah, plan to take part in today’s drill.  Knowing what to do during an earthquake can literally save your life.

 

Earthquakes, like Hurricanes, Tornados, Floods, and yes . . . even pandemics . . .  are hazards everyone should be aware of, and prepared to deal with.

 

Everyone needs an appropriate disaster plan, just as everyone should have a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

For more on  disaster preparedness, I would invite you to visit Ready.gov or revisit these blogs:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

»» Read More

Reminder: Great Central U.S. Shakeout Today

 

# 6124

 

 

The Great Central U.S. Shakeout, scheduled for today (Feb 7th) at 10:15am, will hopefully bring more than 3 million people together for a multistate earthquake drill.

 

This exercise will be conducted in the style of The Great California Shakeout which has been been running successfully for a number of years (see Reminder: Great Shakeout On Thursday).

 

 

As far as how to protect yourself during an earthquake, officials advise:

 

 

PROTECT YOURSELF. SPREAD THE WORD.

Official rescue teams who have been dispatched to the scene of earthquakes and other disasters around the world continue to advocate use of the internationally recognized "Drop, Cover and Hold On" protocol to protect lives during earthquakes:

• DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table.

 

www.dropcoverholdon.org

»» Read More

Reminder: Great Shakeout On Thursday

 

 

# 5910

 

Tomorrow (October 20th)  California, Nevada, Guam, and British Columbia will hold their yearly earthquake preparedness drill promoted by the USGS and Shakeout.org.

 

The Great British Columbia ShakeOut, October 20, 2011 

The Great California ShakeOut, October 20, 2011

The Great Nevada ShakeOut, October 20, 2011

The Great Guam ShakeOut, October 20, 2011

 

Many radio & TV stations across these states will play audio and/or video earthquake simulations at precisely 10:20 am to add authenticity to the drill.

 

The Shakeout websites ask residents to register, and to take part in this annual earthquake exercise.  You’ll find plenty of suggestions on how to participate – at home, at work, or at school.

 

The Great California Shakeout is the oldest, and largest of these drills, and this year more than 8.4 million Californians have registered as participants.

 

As far as what to do  DURING an earthquake, I’ll let the folks at ShakeOut.org explain (and no, it isn’t stand under a doorway):

 

Drop, Cover, and Hold On!

Federal, state, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. The ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes. This page explains what to do-- and what not to do.

(Continue . . . )

 

 

The USGS map below shows that most of the United State’s population lives in a seismically active region. While California has the reputation for being earthquake prone, the Midwest and the Eastern Seaboard are not immune.

 

Earthquakes, like Hurricanes, Tornados, Floods, pandemics, and yes . . . even earthquakes . . .  are hazards everyone should be aware of, and prepared to deal with.

 

Everyone needs an appropriate disaster plan, just as everyone should have a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

For more on  disaster preparedness, I would invite you to visit Ready.gov or revisit these blogs:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

And  reminder that early next year, two other regions will be holding shakeout exercises as well.

 

The Great Central U.S. Shakeout On February 7, 2012

The Great Utah ShakeOut, April 17, 2012

If you live in any of these regions, I would encourage you to participate in, and support, these annual disaster drills.

»» Read More

A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Goin' On

 

 

 

# 5887

 

Eleven days from now (on October 20th) California, Nevada, Guam, and British Columbia will hold annual earthquake preparedness drills which are promoted by the USGS and Shakeout.org.

 

The Great British Columbia ShakeOut, October 20, 2011 

The Great California ShakeOut, October 20, 2011

The Great Nevada ShakeOut, October 20, 2011

The Great Guam ShakeOut, October 20, 2011

 

These websites ask residents to register, and to take part in this annual earthquake exercise.  There you’ll find plenty of suggestions on how to participate – at home, at work, or at school.

 

A number of radio & TV stations across the state will play audio and/or video earthquake simulations at precisely 10:20 am to add authenticity to the drill.

 

The Great California Shakeout is the oldest, and largest of these drills, and this year more than 8 million Californians have registered as participants.

 

As far as what to do  DURING an earthquake, I’ll let the folks at ShakeOut.org explain (and no, it isn’t stand under a doorway):

 

Drop, Cover, and Hold On!

Federal, state, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. The ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes. This page explains what to do-- and what not to do.

(Continue . . . )

 

The USGS map below shows that most of the United State’s population lives in a seismically active region. While California has the reputation for being earthquake prone, the Midwest and the Eastern Seaboard are not immune.

 

One of the most vulnerable areas to earthquakes (and tsunamis) in North America is the Pacific Northwest, where just over 311 years ago an earthquake and tsunami – likely on par with this year’s disastrous quake in Japan - struck the coastline.

 

You’ll find a greater description of this event, along with videos and simulations showing what a similar event today would produce, in my essay Just A Matter Of Time.

 

 

Earthquakes, like Hurricanes, Tornados, Floods, and yes . . . even pandemics . . .  are hazards everyone should be aware of, and prepared to deal with.

 

Everyone should have a disaster plan.  Everyone should have a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

For more on  disaster preparedness, I would invite you to visit:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

 

And  reminder that after the first of the year, two other regions will be holding shakeout exercises as well.

 

The Great Central U.S. Shakeout On February 7, 2012

The Great Utah ShakeOut, April 17, 2012

 

If you live in any of these regions, I would encourage you to participate in, and support, these annual disaster drills.

 

 

Note: I’ll be on the road again today, but plan to be back at my desk, and on my regular blogging schedule, tomorrow.

»» Read More

Reminder: Central U.S. Shakeout Tomorrow - April 28th

 

# 5525

 

 

 

A brief reminder, tomorrow at 10:15am CDT millions of residents in 8 central U.S. states will take part in their first annual Central U.S. Shakeout Drill.

 

You’ll find earlier coverage of this event at:

 

NEPEC: New Madrid Earthquake Hazard Review

The Great Central U.S. Shakeout

The World Upside Down

 

So far more than 2.9 million individuals, businesses, organizations, and entities have registered to participate in this year’s Shakeout. 

To learn how to join in, click on the image below:

And to learn what to do in an earthquake, watch this 4 minute video from Shakeout.org. 

 

 

http://www.dropcoverholdon.org/

»» Read More

The Great Central U.S. Shakeout

 

 

 

 

# 5505

 

 

We are now less than ten days away from  The Great Central U.S. Shakeout, scheduled for 10:15am on April 28th. 

 

 

This will be the first year for this drill in the Midwest, but it will be conducted in the style of The Great California Shakeout which has been been running successfully for a number of years. 

 

You can read more about last year’s California Shakeout  and last January’s  Great Oregon/British Columbia ShakeOut.

 

So far more than 2.4 million individuals, businesses, organizations, and entities have registered to participate in this year’s Shakeout. 

 

To learn how to join in, click on the image below:

 

 

And to learn what to do in an earthquake, watch this 4 minute video from Shakeout.org. 

 

 

This year is the bicentennial of the great New Madrid quake of 1811-12, a series of 4 massive shocks (7.2-8.0 mag.) over a two month period which fortunately occurred at time when that part of the country was sparsely populated.

 

While large earthquakes are rare in this part of the country, they do happen. 

 

And today millions of Americans live in this seismic zone.   A quake approaching anywhere close to those magnitudes today would be catastrophic.

 

The map below comes from the USGS document Earthquake Hazard in the New Madrid Seismic Zone Remains a Concern.

 

There are historical accounts of major earthquakes
in the New Madrid region during 1811–12. The geologic record of pre-1811 earthquakes also reveals that the New Madrid seismic zone has repeatedly produced sequences of major earthquakes, including several of magnitude 7 to 8, over the past 4,500 years. These prehistoric earthquakes caused severe and widespread ground failures in the New Madrid region, much like those caused by the 1811–12 earthquake sequence. – USGS.

 

 

Given the risks, this year the United States government will conduct a National Level Exercise (NLE 2011) that will help to  prepare and coordinate a multiple-jurisdictional integrated response to a national catastrophic event.

 

NLE 2011, which will be held next month (May), will simulate a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ). 

 

FEMA describes the exercise as:

 

NLE 2011 is a White House directed Congressionally-mandated exercise that includes the participation of all appropriate federal department and agency senior officials, their deputies and staff; and key operational elements. NLE 2011 will focus on regional catastrophic response and recovery activities between federal, regional, state, tribal, local and private sector participants.

 

 

For more on NLE 2010 you can visit FEMA’s Factsheet.

 

National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011)

 

 

And for more on this, you can check out FEMA director Graig Fugate’s blog of  April 18, 2011 Less than 2 Weeks to Go to Central U.S. Shakeout – What Will You Do?.

 

 

We live on a violent planet.

 

One wracked by storms, fires, floods, drought, volcanoes, earthquakes and myriad other natural disasters.  

 

One need only look at the super-outbreak of tornadoes last week that damaged or destroyed thousands of structures, injured hundreds of people, and claimed the lives of 45 people as they swept across the Mid-west and into the Carolinas to realize just how violent.

 

Emergencies happen every day.  Disasters, admittedly, less often. 

 

But in either event, preparedness is key.

 

At a bare minimum, every household should have a disaster plan, a good first aid kit (and the knowledge to use it), and emergency supplies to last a minimum of 72 hours during a disaster.

 

To become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with these types of disasters: visit the following preparedness sites.

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

 

Having lived nearly a decade on the cusp of the New Madrid fault (just west of Poplar Bluff, actually), and having friends who still reside there, I have a particular interest in this exercise.  

 

I will undoubtedly mention it again before the 28th.

 

If you live in any of the 8 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee) that will be participating in this year’s Great Central U.S. Shakeout, I would encourage you to take part.

 

»» Read More