Community Corner

Are You Part of the Great California Shakeout?

The ground will move at 10:17 a.m.—at least, that's the theory—as people are advised to take cover and envision what around them might fall in the event of a 7.8 temblor.

By City News Service

Millions of Southland residents and millions more across California are expected to "drop, cover and hold on" Thursday as part of an annual earthquake preparedness drill aimed at ensuring people are ready for the "big one."

More than 931,000 residents of Orange County are among the 9.5 million people statewide who have registered to take part in the sixth annual Great California Shakeout drill, according to ShakeOut.org. 

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

More than 3.2 million people in Los Angeles County have registered to participate in the event, which is scheduled for 10:17 a.m., simulating a magnitude-7.8 or larger earthquake along the southernmost area of the San Andreas fault.

At 10:17 a.m., participants will "drop" to the ground, take "cover" under a desk, table or other sturdy surface and "hold on" for 60 seconds, as if a major earthquake were occurring.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Participants are also asked to look around during the drill and envision what might occur during an actual quake -- what objects might fall, what damage is a shaker likely to cause, and will there be an escape route.

Under the quake scenario, a tectonic shift would produce waves of movement for hundreds of miles, over four minutes.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, some 2,000 people would die, tens of thousands would be injured and more than $200 billion in damage would result from the catastrophe, which would have 50 times the intensity of the Jan. 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake.

Hundreds of aftershocks would follow, a few of them nearly as big as the original event, according to the USGS.

Californians should be prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours following an earthquake or other major disaster. That includes having a first- aid kit, medications, food and enough water for each member of a household to drink one gallon per day for at least 72 hours, according to local and state officials.

Homeowners and renters should also know how to turn off the gas in their house or apartment in case of leaks.

Government workers and students are among those expected to take part in the drill.   


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