BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (MJP) —
Thursday morning, millions across California dropped, covered, and held on for the 2024 Great ShakeOut drill.
Lasting one minute long, the drill began at 10:17.
“When we have the threat of an emergency, we want to be prepared for it when it comes,” said Jonathan Drucker, Kern County Fire Department engineer, “that’s the whole goal here. Is to raise awareness and then encourage people to become prepared for an earthquake, so if it does happen, that we’re not struggling to catch up at that point in time.”
The Kern County Fire Department was one of the many places in the South Valley that participated in the drill. The department’s protocol consisted of an evacuation route, headcount, and safety discussions.
Ben Deci, senior media officer for the California Earthquake Authority, said there has been an uptick in earthquakes this year. Although, that isn’t something that Californians should be too surprised by, he said.
“Almost everywhere within the state is within 30 miles of an active fault,” Deci said, “We live in earthquake country. California residents know that, and they should know to expect if they haven’t had an earthquake, they will have one.”
To limit the risk of danger in the home, Deci suggested moving heavy frames that are high on walls or anything hung above the bed. For older homes, he recommended homeowners look into bolting and bracing their houses to make it more resilient to earthquakes.
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“People love to have that big, heavy mirror hanging over their bed,” said Deci, ” Lots of times, that can be a real source of danger during an earthquake, because if it’s not secured really well to the wall, can fall off, fall on top of somebody and cause a significant injury.”
According to the ShakeOut registration date, over 10.5 million people in California participated.
