Following FEMA’s National Preparedness Month in September, individuals and communities throughout Lake County will participate in the Great Lake County ShakeOut earthquake drill.
Held annually on the third Thursday of October, the Great ShakeOut is set for Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “drop, cover, and hold on.” Endorsed by emergency officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to:
- Drop where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.
- Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand.
- If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter.
- If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows).
- Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs
- Hold on until shaking stops.
- Under shelter: Hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts.
- No shelter: Hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.
On Aug. 12, 2020 a 3.9 magnitude earthquake stuck Cobb at 4:45 a.m. The Largest quake to shake Lake County in the last 30 years was a 5.1 magnitude earthquake centered 11 miles northwest of Upper Lake on Aug. 10, 2016. Lake County, especially the Cobb Mountain area, is home to multiple small earthquakes every year making preparation for seismic activity a priority.
Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 80 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii, will be participating in the Great Shakeout drill. Adventist Health Clear Lake Medical Center and Medical Offices are conducting a Great ShakeOut drills on October 15
According to Spokesperson Kimberly Baldwin, Emergency Manager, “While damaging earthquakes here may be fewer in number when compared to other areas, they can occur at any time wherever we work, live, or travel within the region and beyond. Everyone, everywhere should know how to protect themselves from an earthquake.”
The Great ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups. To take part in the Great ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate at GreatShakeOut.org. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.
To date, 5.5 million people are registered to participate in this event in California. More than 9.1 million people around the globe are expected to participate; and in addition to safety drills, many participants take extra steps to become more prepared for earthquakes or other disasters.
