Statewide Quake Drill Today: 10:20 a.m.
By Pat Brennan, O.C. Register science, environment editorOctober 19th, 2011, 12:05 pm
Millions of people in California will "drop, cover and hold on" Thursday as part of this year's "Great California Shakeout," which organizers call the world's largest earthquake drill.Some 8.5 million people across the state, including close to 800,000 in Orange County, are signed up to take part, pledging to practice taking cover beneath a desk or table when the simulated quake strikes at 10:20 a.m.
Some also will stage events to dramatize the potential effects of a large, devastating earthquake. At Cal State Fullerton, volunteers will dress as victims of quake-related injuries on Thursday, complete with fake blood.
"Around campus, we'll have fallen debris at six locations," said Sue Fisher, emergency management coordinator for the Cal State Fullerton Police.
But the organizers also hope to dispel popular mythology about earthquakes, and to urge the public to avoid making a bad situation even more dangerous — say, by running outdoors when a quake strikes.
"The facade on the outside of a building is not structurally safe, and it will fall down," said Margaret Vinci, manager of earthquake programs at Caltech and a member of the Shakeout team.
And the popular myth about getting in a doorway is just that: an invented safety precaution that can actually increase the risk of injury.
It comes from an old photograph showing devastation after a 19th century earthquake. An adobe house lies in ruins with only the door-frame left standing.
In modern buildings, Vinci said, standing in a doorway during a quake is a bad decision.
"Unless you live in an adobe house, you don't want to do that," she said. "The doors are going to be slamming open and shut. They're going to hit you and pinch your hands. And you do not want to be standing during an earthquake."
That could mean more exposure to falling debris; instead, crawl to safety. A big quake could knock you off your feet anyway, and crawling protects your internal organs.
"Drop, cover and hold on" is the shorthand version of the best advice from quake experts: drop to the ground, get under the nearest desk or table, and hang onto it until the shaking stops.
More advice: Don't run to another room to find a table. Instead, find an inside corner of the room and cover your head and neck with your arms.
And there's a far better chance of being injured by falling debris than being killed in a building collapse during a big quake.
So your best chance is to drop immediately and take cover wherever you happen to be. In a car, pull over away from bridges or overpasses and set the parking brake.
Most of those taking part in Thursday's Shakeout are school children: 5.7 million across the state, more than 500,000 in Orange County.
The next largest group includes colleges and universities, with more than 180,000 people in Orange County and 1.3 million statewide.
Government offices, medical facilities and businesses also have registered thousands of participants.
And nearly 150,000 will take part in other states, including Nevada, Idaho and Oregon. People in other countries have registered as well, among them Canada and Guam.
The Shakeout started in 2008 in Southern California, but is now open to anyone.
On Thursday, the mock-earthquake-victims will be on hand at Cal State Fullerton from 10 a.m. t0 11 a.m.
But organizers say anyone can take part in the Shakeout, by themselves or with their families. Simply register on the Great Shakeout web site and, even if you don't, drop, cover and hold on at 10:20 a.m. Thursday.
Source: http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/10/19/quakes-are-first-instincts-worst-instincts/148133/--
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