Millions of people across the nation, including the San Fernando Valley will participate today, Oct. 16 in the Great California ShakeOut 2014, the annual event to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes.
According to its Web site, 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 an opportunity to practice how to protect yourself and others.
If you can see or feel an earthquake happening you should:
Drop to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!); take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table and HOLD to it until the shaking stops.
Here are a couple of tips on what not to do:
Do not get in a doorway! An early earthquake photo is a collapsed adobe home with the door frame as the only standing part. From this came our belief that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. In modern houses and buildings, doorways are no safer, and they do not protect you from flying or falling objects. Get under a table instead!
Do not run outside! Trying to run in an earthquake is dangerous, as the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by debris or glass. Running outside is especially dangerous, as glass, bricks, or other building components may be falling. You are much safer to stay inside and get under a table.
For more tips, guidelines, and earthquake information, go the www.shakeout.org