Today, October 18th, is the scheduled day for the annual “Shakeout!” drill. Starting in California over a decade ago, the Shakeout drill is a once a year event where everyone should practice what to do in an earthquake.
The official time for the drill is 10:18 a.m. on 10/18.
How do you participate in this drill? If you’re a business, even if your business isn’t in an area where earthquakes are common, encourage your employees to participate and double-check your emergency procedures. If you’re just an individual…find a desk or sturdy table, crawl under it for about 60 seconds, hold onto the table, then review your emergency procedures when you get home.
This year there have been a great number of examples of why you should practice this technique and review your procedures. Strong earthquakes have hit Mexico City, Papua New Guinea, and recently Indonesia. Buildings have crumbled, people have died, and tsunami waves have hit.
These disasters have illustrated the importance of preparation and of appropriate safety responses. If people try to run outside or downstairs during the shaking, they can’t find footing and they may be hit by falling debris from the buildings themselves.
When these disasters have hit, it has sometimes taken days to weeks for relief to arrive. Having water, food, and medical supplies available at home, and especially enough water for 1-2 weeks…that can literally keep you and your family alive.
