California stopped again for a few moments for the Great California ShakeOut, the annual earthquake drill scheduled for 10:16 amThe event brought together more than 10,3 million registered and it arrived with an unexpected opening act: a real earthquake of magnitude 3,1 near Berkeley that was recorded just minutes before the exercise.
The day, celebrated every third Thursday of October as International ShakeOut Day, seeks to have homes, schools and businesses practice the gesture'duck, cover, and hold on' to reduce injuries and react quickly. With a practical, at-home approach, the goal is for people to automate simple steps when the ground starts to shake.
Participation and development of the exercise
The follow-up was massive: in California more than 10,3 million of inscriptions, with 4,1 million in Los Angeles and Orange counties and 980.458 in San Diego County. The ShakeOut takes place from 2008 and, although last year it exceeded the 10,6 million, participation remains among the highest in the world.
At the appointed time, and during approximately one minuteFamilies, schools, public agencies, and businesses halted their activities to rehearse what to do during an earthquake. The instructions were clear: move as little as possible. protect the head and take shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture or next to interior walls away from objects that could fall.
En San Diego Multiple administrations and services were involved: municipalities such as Imperial Beach, National City, Oceanside, Santee y Solana Beach, in addition to the County Parks and Recreation Department, the County Office of Emergency Services (OES), and the Public Library. School districts and college campuses also participated, such as UC San Diego, San Diego State University and University of San Diego, among others.
Technology also played its part. The app MyShake released a test notice shortly after the actual quake, simulating a seismic event. M 4,5 near Berkeley, as part of early warning training that complements in-person drills.
A real earthquake and seismic memory
According to USGS, the earthquake recorded in the morning had its epicenter about 1,6–2 kilometers east of Berkeley and occurred around 9:23, without significant damage or injuries. This type of minor movement can cause replicas, sometimes comparable in magnitude to the main event, so it is advisable not to let your guard down.
In the heart of San Francisco, fire department personnel combined the exercise with calls from neighbors concerned about the shaking. A lieutenant, Julio Escobar, said that he tried to locate his children in different parts of the city to verify that they were well, and stressed that the continuous training makes the difference when it comes to acting.
The date also fell close to the anniversary of the earthquake in Loma Prieta (1989), of magnitude 6,9, which resulted in dozens of deaths, severe damage to thousands of buildings and the partial collapse of the bridge San Francisco–Oakland Bay. This memory reinforces the value of drills and exercises. hazard maps that help plan effective responses.
After the slight tremor, the teams of the USGS They continued collecting data to adjust the magnitude and update the public intensity maps of the shaking, key tools to assess the impact and, despite the Scientific advances, improve community preparedness.
Seismic risk and how to best prepare
The odds keep the pressure on: the USGS estimates a 99% of chances that California will suffer an earthquake of M 6,7 or higher before 2044; in San Diego County, an estimated 93% probability of a major event in the next 50 years, and the Rose Canyon Fault It concentrates around a 18% of possibilities of M 6,7+ in three decades.
Local and state authorities recommend preparing to be self-sufficient 72 hours After a disaster: first aid kit, essential medication, non-perishable food and water (one gallon per person per day), as well as a battery-powered radio, flashlights and spare batteries.
It is also essential that owners and tenants know how turn off the gas In case of a leak, check the anchors on tall furniture and secure objects that could fall or shift during an earthquake.
What not to do when the shaking starts, according to the Earthquake Country Alliance:
- Do not stay in the door frame: It is no safer than other areas and does not protect against falling or thrown objects.
- Do not run outside: Unstable terrain and falling debris increase the risk of injury.
- Not applying the 'Triangle of Life': Prioritize the proven protocol of duck, cover, and hold on.
Southern California records around 10.000 earthquakes per year, the USGS recalls. Since 2015, the city of Los Angeles is promoting structural reinforcements under the Ordinance 183893 to reduce risks in vulnerable buildings during strong shocks.
Activities and reference scenarios
In San Diego County, the state OES conducted a seismic trailer to Waterfront Park between the 6:00 and 13:00 hrs. so that citizens could experience a simulation of up to M 7,0In addition, information was provided on early warnings, preparedness guidelines, and life-saving recommendations.
The scenarios of ShakeOut.org They focus on a possible event of M 7,8 at the southern end of the San Andreas fault: thousands of victims are expected (around 2.000 deceased), tens of thousands of injured and damages that would exceed 200.000 million, with hundreds of replicas and an intensity significantly greater than that of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
With a real tremor as a warning and participation ranging from schools to administrations and companies, the Great ShakeOut makes it clear again that the seismic preparation It's a shared effort: practicing the right moves today and fine-tuning emergency plans can make all the difference when the next big one comes.
