City of Redlands readies for the Great California ShakeOut

With 37 million people living and working in California, a major earthquake could cause unprecedented devastation. What we do now, before a big earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like afterwards. With earthquakes an inevitable part of California’s future, we must act quickly to ensure that disasters do not become catastrophes. In October 2013 over 9.5 million Californians participated in the ShakeOut through a broad-based outreach program, media partnerships, and public advocacy by hundreds of partners. The drill is held statewide annually on the third Thursday of October, and is organized by the Earthquake Country Alliance. The 2014 Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill will be held on Thursday, Oct. 16. The City of Redlands will join millions of Californians that day to increase awareness and readiness for a major earthquake. At 11 a.m. all city departments at the Redlands Civic Center and Police Annex will be evacuated. Customers doing business at that time will be advised of the evacuation and directed where to go. The inconvenience will be minor and will last only a few minutes. Emergency responders will review procedures and communications protocols along with volunteers from the Redlands Emergency Communication Group and the City will activate emergency communications as part of the Emergency Operations Center on Park Avenue to ensure that first responders will receive EOC activation notices in a timely manner. A key aspect of the ShakeOut is the integration of comprehensive science-based earthquake research and the lessons learned from decades of social science research about why people get prepared. The result is a “teachable moment” on par with having an actual earthquake (often followed by increased interest in getting ready for earthquakes). ShakeOut creates the sense of urgency that is needed for people, organizations, and communities to get prepared, to practice what to do to be safe, and to learn what plans need to be improved. To participate in this year’s ShakeOut go to www.ShakeOut.org/california/register and pledge your family, school, business, or organization’s participation in the drill. Registered participants will receive information on how to plan their drill and how to create a dialogue with others about earthquake preparedness. All organizers ask is that participants register (so they can be counted and receive communications), and at the minimum practice "drop, cover, and hold on" at the specified time. It is only a five-minute commitment for something that can save your life. It all begins with registering, which is free and open to everyone.