Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and Fire Chief David Ellis are encouraging all city employees, residents, businesses, and schools to participate in the “Great Southern California Shakeout.” This event will be the largest earthquake drill ever planned and simulated in Southern California and organizers expect it to be the nation’s largest public earthquake preparedness activity ever conducted.
At 10:00 a.m. today, millions of people in government offices, homes, businesses, schools, and public places all over southern California will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” as we practice a community-wide simulated drill of what we would do during an actual earthquake. Organized by the Earthquake Country Alliance, this 7.8-earthquake drill will help us better understand how an earthquake of this magnitude could affect homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and schools. It will provide valuable information on what we are doing right and how we can make improvements to be better prepared in the future.
An earthquake of this magnitude could shake for as long as two minutes, with a sharp jolt of a few seconds before the strong shaking occurs. This is why it is imperative to act immediately at the first signs of an earthquake. Unprecedented damage would occur, with the potential for a large loss of life, numerous injuries, and a long-lasting disruption of services.
To participate in this event go to www.shakeout.org.
