Held on the third Thursday of October each year, and this year falling on Oct. 20th, the Great California ShakeOut is the largest preparedness event in U.S. history.
It encourages and reminds everyone that as Californians who live in a place where earthquakes are an inevitable part of California’s future, that we must do all we can to prepare and learn to act quickly to ensure that a disaster such as an earthquake, does not become a catastrophe.
Cirizens have two opportunities to practice preparedness on Oct. 20. They can participate in the California Great ShakeOut with more than 6.9 million other Californians by stopping what they are doing at 10:20 a.m. and practicing drop, cover and hold on and/or, participate in the City of Culver City’s “ShakeOut” (annual disaster drill) at 7 p.m. by doing the same.
However, the public is asked to also utilize the City’s “OK” sign program to let first responders know that they are “OK.”
For those who have never participated in our City-Wide Disaster Drill with the “OK” sign program, they simply need to place an “OK” sign in their window, or on their door in a location most visible from the public right-of-way (OK signs can be downloaded from the City website, www.culvercity.org/emergencyprep).
In the event of a real disaster, if your family was not “OK,” you would post nothing and contact 9-1-1 to let them know of injuries, etc.
Citizens wanting more information on how to participate in the Great California ShakeOut, to participate in Culver City’s “ShakeOut” with the “OK” sign program, to download family disaster plans and disaster supply checklists, can visit the website at www.culvercity.org/emergencyprep. Additional information can also be found at www.ShakeOut.org.