Huge Earthquake Drill Planned for Tomorrow, Nov. 13, 2008
What is being billed as the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
An estimated 5.1 million people in Southern California are expected to participate, including more than 400,000 in San Diego County.
At 10 a.m., in response to an imaginary quake, people will be advised to “drop, cover and hold”: get to the floor immediately, move under a sturdy piece of furniture if possible and hold onto it.
The drill is part of the “Great Southern California ShakeOut,” a simulation of a magnitude-7.8 earthquake on the southern end of the San Andreas Fault, which would have widespread regional impacts. The ShakeOut was organized by the Earthquake Country Alliance, a partnership of quake professionals, emergency managers, elected officials, businesses and community leaders.
More than 100 local schools and 100 businesses have signed up to take part in the drill, and organizers would like individuals and families also to rehearse their responses during a quake.
For more information or to sign up to participate in the drill, go to www.shakeout.org.
Additional exercises, which include a triage display at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest tomorrow morning, continue through next week. The preparedness drills are designed to test emergency responders'ability to deal with the impacts of a major earthquake. –R.K.
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