In just a few hours, millions of people around the globe—19.3 million to be exact—will take one minute out of their day to practice the simple, but very important safety technique, Drop, Cover, and Hold On. The drill, now in its tenth year, is part of the Great Shakeout, a global initiative to improve earthquake preparedness. And, it’s important to you regardless of where you live, work or travel.
As mentioned in a previous BOLDplanning blog post, many areas of the world are prone to earthquakes. In fact, and according to reports from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, there were 1,566 earthquakes ranging from 5.0 to 8.0+ on the Richter Scale in 2017 alone. Most recently (September 28, 2018), a deadly 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit near Sulawesi, Indonesia, spawning a massive tsunami with waves up to 18 feet. Recovery efforts are now underway, and given the extent of the devastation, will continue for a long time to come.
Sadly, this area of Indonesia has seen about 15 earthquakes with magnitudes larger than 6.5 over the last century, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
At BOLDplanning, we encourage you to take one minute out of your day on Thursday, October 18, 2018, to participate in the Great Shakeout. After all, the Drop, Cover and Hold On technique could save your life in an earthquake. And, who knows where the next one will occur? Seismic activity is unpredictable, putting each and every one of us at risk every single day.
Whether you conduct your exercise tomorrow, or in the weeks ahead, register with the Great Shakeout now. Also, check out the many resources available to improve earthquake preparedness. They’re completely free, and offer a wealth of information about the drill, and the Drop, Cover and Hold On technique. There are also numerous planning documents available, including Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety (a brief, but good read for anyone!).
