Representatives from the California governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) toured three cities this week, with their mobile earthquake simulator in tow.
One of the city stops they made was near Los Angeles’ Chinatown right outside Homeboy Industries.
Called the “Great California ShakeOut Tour,” a team from the Sacramento County agency set up information tables and repeated the message – “Being prepared can be lifesaving.”
Oftentimes, speaking or handing out information is just not enough to convince people to get themselves ready for a large quake, but an invitation to take a seat in the Cal OES simulator can be very motivating.
As people from Homeboy Bakery, customers and those passing by took turns walking into the simulator on Tuesday, they smiled and strapped themselves in as if they were going on an amusement park ride. They were directed to watch a screen of a visual re-enactment that added to the intensity of what a 7.0 earthquake feels like.
Their faces grew serious as they tried to hold on to their seats.
“I felt that jerking and shaking inside my body and hearing the loud sounds of the window glass breaking wasn’t what I expected. I felt like I was in it,” said one strong looking man.
“This is a real-life scenario and we want people to be prepared if a quake hits their city, to know how to drop and cover,” said Jon Gudell, a member of the Cal OES team.
Through the earthquake simulator, users experience intense simulated shaking, similar to that caused by magnitude 7.0 earthquakes.
The staff from CalOES shared that it’s not unusual for people to ask, “How do I get prepared?” after they’ve experienced the simulator. “They recognize that during an actual quake, they wouldn’t be strapped into a seat that holds them and they would have to protect themselves and those around them.”
“California is no stranger to natural disasters, like earthquakes. That’s why it’s important we work with communities statewide to have the life-saving information that they need to stay safe before the next seismic event,” said Nancy Ward, Cal OES director.
It’s no secret that there are active faults throughout Southern California that regularly cause small shifts that aren’t always felt. In LA, there are small quakes daily that aren’t even noticed.
Unless people experience a large quake like the one in 1989 in Northridge with a 6.7 magnitude, Angelenos are accustomed to just riding out smaller quakes and then going on with their day without taking the time to get prepared.
“Earthquakes can happen anywhere at any time, as we have seen in recent months in the Southern California area,” said Michael Traum, a spokesperson for CalOES.
Smaller quakes occurred over the summer – including a 4.4 magnitude in Pasadena in mid-August and another near Malibu just a month later in September with a 4.7 magnitude.
Geologists have pointed out that a quake with a 7.0 magnitude is very possible.
“Everyone is busy in their everyday lives, but being prepared is essential to keeping you, your family and your community safe during an earthquake,” said Traum.
“Preparing a go-bag or stay-box, and downloading the free MyShake app can make a big difference in being prepared.”
For more information on earthquake preparedness from Cal OES, go to https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/operations/planning-preparedness-prevention/seismic-hazards/earthquake-preparedness/.