Are You Ready For The Big One?
A recent study revealed a 99.7% chance of an earthquake the size of the Northridge quake striking Los Angeles within the next 30 years - or 30 minutes.
Are you ready?
Can you Drop, Cover, and Hold On?
We encourage everyone in Los Angeles to Join our earthquake safety program: QuakeSmart:LA
MySafe:LA, the Los Angeles Fire Department, Southern California Gas Company, the Southern California Earthquake Center, the Community Emergency Response Team, and the California Institute of Technology are joining forces to bring earthquake preparedness and education to the city of Los Angeles on October 20, 2011 during the third annual Great California Shakeout.
There are many faults throughout California generally and Los Angeles specifically. One of the most dangerous is the San Andreas Fault. If the Southern end of the fault ruptures, the effects could cause horrible results in the Los Angeles area. The original "Great Shakeout" drill was based on a scenario involving the San Adreas Fault:
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake striking the Southern San Andreas Fault, starting at the Salton Sea and rupturing northward 190 miles. In the scenario, the earthquake would start more than 1,600 fires, kill 1800 people, injure 50,000, cause $200 billion in damage, and have long-lasting social and economic consequences.
Earthquake Drill
MySafe:LA, the LAFD, SoCal Gas, SCEC, and CERT-LA and CalTech converged on Bushnell Elementary School in Highland Park to conduct a realistic earthquake simulation. We selected Bushnell as a good example of a school that might be impacted by a strong earthquake.
The morning began with a fun bilingual presentation on earthquake threat and preparedness for 4th and 5th grade students. A number of special guests spoke to the students, including LAFD Deputy Chief Emile Mack. After the safety presentation, students returned to their classrooms.
At 10:20 AM, along with the rest of the state of California, students reacted to the alarm of "earthquake!" and executed the drop, cover and hold technique demonstrated during the presentation.
That is when the real fun began - but it was all serious for those involved.
Teachers began their evacuation process, as per the protocol of the LA Unified School District. Classrooms were emptied and students moved to the playground in orderly fashion.
Two classrooms were not vacated. Students were "trapped" and unable to leave. Worse, 15 students were injured by the quake. NOTE: MySafe:LA brought in a Hollywood makeup artist, and she created very realistic injuries for students. This gave first responders the impression of realism.
The first responders to the school were members of the CERT team for Highland Park. These dedicated volunteers began to recon the school, looking for damage and other earthquake related problems. Meanwhile, the LAFD responded with a number of resources. The firefighters were told the school was damaged and some students might be trapped. Task Force 12, Rescue 12, Engine 47, Light Force 1, EMS 2, and Battalion 2 arrived at the school and went into action.
Within minutes, firefighters had made entry into the classrooms and began to treat the injured. Students that could walk were evacuated to the playground and reunited with their classes. Students who were injured were removed to a triage area set up by the LAFD. Three separate areas were implemented, and several serious injuries were treated in the "immediate" red tarp section. Within 40 minutes, everyone had been prepped for transport to a local hospital. As this was only a simulation, there were no transports required.
During the search of the school, it was determined that one of the students was "missing." The principal notified the LAFD Incident Commander that the child had disappeared. Battalion 2 requested a K9 SAR dog and within minutes, the eager yellow lab (her name is BO) had found the lost student.
Now that the drill has been completed, there is more work to do. MySafe:LA and the LAFD will return to meet with teachers at Bushnell Elementary School. A discussion will take place and lessons learned will be shared among the attendees.
"Every single day at MySafe:LA, we teach kids in Los Angeles how to be safe in emergencies,” said MySafe:LA Executive Officer David Barrett. “We're so grateful to be able to create realistic drills like this. The LAFD is a terrific partner and we so appreciate the dedication of every CERT volunteer. The net result is excellent training for everyone: firefighters, students, and teachers."
"Of the 17 potential disasters defined by FEMA, Los Angeles has the right conditions to experience 16 of them,” said Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Brian Cummings. “That list, of course, includes earthquakes. This is why we conduct drills like the one on October 20th. We train like our lives depend on it, because they do. And we want the citizens of Los Angeles to train for disasters as well. To train and prepare.” MySafe:LA and the LAFD will be conducting similar "realistic" drills with school throughout Los Angeles. The next one will relate to wildfire evacuation.
KEY TIP: If you experience a major earthquake, DO NOT DIAL 9-1-1 unless you are personally experiencing a life-threatening emergency. That means you're injured, someone with you is injured, or your home or business is involved with fire or collapse. If you are safe, your loved ones are safe, and you're away from danger, do not call emergency services. Everyone can feel an earthquake, so the LAFD and other emergency services agencies will automatically be acting to protect lives and property.
Resources
Learn to Drop, Cover, and Hold on!
Learn about Earthquake Science - Watch Video Now
Learn what to do: When an earthquake strikes Los Angeles
Get Involved! Play a Part!
Being prepared is a key factor in survival. If you know what to do, have the right emergency rations of water, food, and medical supplies, your chances of surviving the "big one" are much greater. There's a lot you can do to protect yourself and your family. A few things include:
Learn the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety
Purchase your own copy of the new award-winning DVD about preparing for the Big One.
Become a member of CERT in Los Angeles. Learn More
Join the MySafe:LA eNews group and receive important earthquake and life safety information.
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