While some areas of California are more likely to have earthquakes than others (see below), all of California is at higher risk compared to the rest of the country. You could be anywhere when an earthquake strikes: at home, at work, at school, or even on vacation.
What we do now will determine our quality of life after our next big earthquake. Are you prepared to survive and recover quickly?
The Great California ShakeOut is an annual opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes: "Drop, Cover and Hold On." The ShakeOut has also been organized to encourage you, your community, your school, or your organization to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure your space in order to prevent damage and injuries.
At Garfield High School our staff, students, parents and volunteers participated in this annual event. As students and teachers evacuated to the football field (main gathering area) our staff and volunteers quickly took their positions to provide guidance and instructions to all participants.
As part of the Great ShakeOut, drills to secure buildings of fires, injuries and damage were conducted by staff members.
Students and teachers followed instructions in assembling at specified locations on the football field quickly taking attendance and reporting it to the Command Center.
As with anything, to act quickly you must practice often. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down, or something falls on you. Remember..."Drop, Cover, and Hold On"
Photos courtesy of 1SG Eason