Are You Ready For The Big One?

THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW

It’s about being prepared

The Great Shakeout is a worldwide earthquake drill that helps people around the globe learn more about earthquakes and how to prepare for them. On a chosen day each October, participants all over the world take time out of their day to Drop, Cover and Hold On.

This year, more than nine million people have already registered in California, and 23.3 million have joined worldwide. But joining the Shakeout is not about being part of a movement – it’s about being prepared.

THE THREAT IN LOS ANGELES:

More than 300 earthquake faults crisscross Los Angeles. Others run nearby. And while we often see news reports of small earthquakes throughout California, we don’t see what is happening every day. Geologic pressure is building on faults that will materially change the landscape in Los Angeles.and your life.

• The southern end of the San Andreas is more than 150 years overdue to rip (earthquake).
• When it does, Los Angeles will experience a quake unlike anything since 1857.
• The biggest risk today may be in concrete buildings – there are more than 100 in Los Angeles.

Interactive map from the Los Angeles Times – Check it out!

BEING PREPARED:

Repairing things after a major earthquake will be hard, but repairing a broken family is impossible. Increasing your readiness will increase your ability to survive a damaging earthquake. MySafe:LA works closely with a number of agencies to ensure you get the best possible information about earthquakes. That’s why we have developed the QuakeSmart:LA initiative.

• Are your fragile items and art secured to walls?
• Are your media devices, such as televisions secured so they don’t fall down?
• Do you have 72 hours of water on hand? (1 gallon per day per person in the household)
• Do you have an earthquake survival kit?
• Have you practiced what to do when an earthquake strikes?
• Do you know what the myths are and how to avoid being injured?

GETTING GOOD INFORMATION:

The first thing to do is review the MySafe:LA QuakeSmart:LA web content. You can learn about history, where to report earthquake activity, how to build a survival kit and much more.

Next, check out the California Shakeout Website. Register to be part of the solution.

Every year, MySafe:LA partners with the Los Angeles Fire Department, Cal Tech, the Southern California Earthquake Center, USC, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the United States Geological Survey, and other partners to practice survival during a big quake. We conduct our drill at an elementary school, and have firefighters work to rescue students and faculty who may be separated from their classmates.

Check out some of our video and images from past Great Shakeout drills – some of them shot and produced by students who took part in the drill.