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International ShakeOut Day 10-18-18
Each area of the United States is susceptible to certain types of natural disasters. Whether they morph into full-blown catastrophes depends on what we do now to prepare, survive and recover. One potential disaster that threatens millions of Americans each year is earthquakes.
To help people prepare, FEMA sponsors an annual campaign designed to inspire ShakeOut drills each October. This year’s Great ShakeOut will be on 10/18/18 at 10:18 a.m. More than 20 million people in the United States, from all states and territories, are expected to participate, along with millions of others worldwide. Since the first event was held in 2008 in California, 2018 marks the 10th Anniversary of ShakeOut.
“What we all do now will determine how quickly we spring back after the next big earthquake,” said Mark Benthien, Global ShakeOut Coordinator and Outreach Director at the Southern California Earthquake Center.
To plan a successful ShakeOut drill, see ShakeOut.org/resources for guides, broadcasts, flyers, and posters to enhance your building occupants’ drills and inspire others to join you! Learn how you can stay safe from earthquakes in a variety of situations at EarthquakeCountry.org/step5. Follow @ShakeOut on Twitter and @GreatShakeOut on Instagram to learn other tips.
“Our dynamic planet demands science that helps us anticipate and prepare for the effects of damaging earthquakes, as we build safer communities and conduct exercises like ShakeOut to help reduce injury, death, and damage,” said U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Science Center Director Steve Hickman. “Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills began as a regional activity based on the USGS’ ShakeOut Scenario, which continues to inspire improvements in planning, preparedness, and mitigation.”
High-Rise Earthquake Safety
Our training system helps commercial, residential, educational, institutional, government, retail and industrial buildings with compliance to fire life safety codes. Our interactive, building-specific e-learning training system is designed specifically to train high-rise building occupants to be safe. To that end, here are some high-rise-specific earthquake safety tips for our subscribers and friends:
Develop an earthquake readiness plan.
Why not participate in the Great ShakeOut, for example?
No matter where you are when an earthquake hits, drop, cover and hold on.
- 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 with one arm and hand.
- HOLD ON until shaking stops.
Stay away from bookcases or furniture that can fall on you.
Stay away from windows. In a high-rise building, expect the fire alarms and sprinklers to activate during a quake.
Stay inside until the shaking stops and you’re sure it’s safe to exit. This is particularly important in a high-rise building, as you could easily be evacuating down stairs when powerful aftershocks hit. So, make sure it is safe before you vacate the building.
Once you are outdoors, in the event of aftershocks, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to the ground.
About the Allied Universal Fire Life Safety Training System
Our training helps with compliance to fire life safety codes and instantly issues a certificate to building occupants who complete the course! It’s a convenient and affordable solution to the training needs of your facility. Click here for more information or to subscribe.
