From the County of Humboldt:

Following FEMA’s “National Preparedness Month” in September, individuals and communities throughout Humboldt County will participate in the Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill.

 

Held annually on the third Thursday of October, ShakeOut is set for Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”. Endorsed by emergency officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to:

DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.

COVER your head and neck.

  •  If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter.
  •  If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows).
  •  Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs.

HOLD ON until shaking stops.

  •  Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts.
  •  No shelter: cover your head and neck with both arms and hands.

For persons with disabilities and other access or functional needs, more information as to how you can protect yourself in the event of an earthquake can be accessed at the Earthquake Country Alliance website.

Humboldt County will observe the ShakeOut drill at 10:18 a.m. on Oct. 18. At this time, a test of the Humboldt ALERT system will also be conducted.

Humboldt ALERT is used to notify residents of severe weather, fires, floods, evacuations, and other emergencies. Messages are sent to residents on their preferred contact paths—cell phone, SMS texting, home phone, and email, to ensure real-time access to potentially lifesaving information. In order to receive Humboldt ALERT messaging, you must register. Register online at humboldtgov.org/alerts or call the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services at (707) 268-2500.

The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups. To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate at the ShakeOut website. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

To date, 8.9 million people are registered to participate in California, however ShakeOut Earthquake Drills will also occur throughout the nation and in several countries worldwide. More than 35 million people around the globe are expected to participate; and in addition to safety drills, many participants take extra steps to become more prepared for earthquakes or other disasters.

The Great California ShakeOut is coordinated by the California Office of Emergency Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of other partners. ShakeOut is coordinated globally by the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California.