Hosted on the third Thurs- day of October each year the Great California ShakeOut is the largest preparedness event in U.S. history. This year’s ShakeOut will take place on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 10:16 a.m. statewide and again at 7 p.m. in Culver City’s ShakeOut.
This emergency-preparedness event encourages and reminds everyone that Californians who live in a place where earthquakes are an inevitable part of the state’s future, everyone must do all they can to pre- pare and learn to act quickly to ensure that disasters do not become a catastrophes.
On Oct. 16th everyone in the city will have two opportuni- ties to practice their preparedness by participating in both the California and Culver City Great ShakeOut. The statewide emergency drill is expected to include more than 8.8 million Californians who will stop what they are doing at 10:16 a.m. and Drop, Cover and Hold On.
For Culver City residents, there will be a second chance at the drill in a citywide ShakeOut at 7 p.m. However, local residents are asked to also utilize the City’s “OK” sign program to let first responders know that they are “OK”.
For those of you who have never participated in our citywide disaster drill with the “OK” sign program, all that is required is that the participants place an “OK” sign in their window or on their door in a location most visible from the public right-of-way to signal that everyone is “OK.” In the event of a real disaster, if a family was not “OK,” a household would post nothing and contact 9-1-1 to let them know of injuries, etc.
Persons interested on how to participate in the Great California ShakeOut, and to participate in Culver City’s “ShakeOut” with the “OK” sign program (OK signs are also available to download), can download family disaster plans and disaster supply checklists by visiting: www.culvercity. org/emergencyprep and www. ShakeOut.org.