Riverside County Participates in Historic Quake Preparedness Drill
The likelihood that a major earthquake will strike the region in the next 30 years has spurred Riverside County residents into action.
More than 560,000 local residents have registered for the Great Southern California Shakeout, a large-scale earthquake preparedness drill on Nov. 13. Almost 5 million people will participate across the southland, with Riverside County leading in registrations.
Participants will test their response to a scenario based on a magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault that begins at 10 a.m. in the Coachella Valley. The drill is an opportunity for schools, businesses and families to ensure that emergency plans are in place, said Peter Lent, director of the county’s Office of Emergency Services.
“It’s easy to delay preparing for a disaster, but earthquakes happen without warning,” Lent said. “How quickly we recover depends on how prepared we are for any catastrophic event.”
The region is overdue for a major earthquake and county officials urge residents to be prepared. Schools can teach students to drop, cover and hold. Businesses can rehearse evacuation procedures. Families can discuss how to reach each other if telephone systems go down and prepare emergency supply kits.
For more information about the Great Southern California Shakeout or to register, visit www.shakeout.org. Links to emergency-preparedness resources are also available on the Web site.