Great Shakeout 2017: Are You Ready, California?

The Great California ShakeOut will take place October 19 at 10:19 a.m. After an earthquake, most Californian's run to social media to answer the question, "Did you feel it?" Typically small in scale, the US Geological Survey marks small quakes across southern California just about every day. Someday, geologists say, a large earthquake will strike the Golden State, and we all will need to drop, cover and hold on. Are you prepared for what happens when the real shaking stops?

On Thursday, millions will participate in Great ShakeOut drills across the state of California to practice techniques for what to do and how to properly "Drop, cover, and Hold On."

"ShakeOut encourages cross-sector, whole community conversation and action about earthquake preparedness, inspiring people to make better decisions for how they can prepare to survive and recover," said Mark Benthien, Global ShakeOut Coordinator and Outreach Director for the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California. "Social science research shows that when people see others take action, they are more likely to take action too."

Click play to experience the big one scenario in Southern California. And try not to freak out.

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Earthquakes can happen any time, any where. At work, at night, when you are at an airport. When an earthquake comes, the act of "Drop, Cover and Hold On" can save lives.

"Earthquakes are a fact of living in California, especially Southern California, and it's not if it happens but when," Orange County Fire Authority Captain Larry Kurtz told Patch. "The key is to be prepared. Have an earthquake supply kit with enough food, water and medications to be able to function for 72-hours without needing external assistance. Have relatives be a calling center for information, when everyone tries to call your phones, it could crash the system."

Drills from the Great ShakeOut include how to prepare for an earthquake if you are in a variety of situations including if you are on the beach or if you are asleep in bed.

The Great Shakeout and emergency responders, like OCFA teach the 7 Steps To Earthquake Safety:

• Secure Your Space: Identify hazards and secure items.
• Plan To Be Safe: Create a disaster plan and decide how to communicate with loved ones in an emergency.
• Organize Disaster Supplies: Put your survival supplies in convenient locations.
• Minimize Financial Hardship: Organize important documents, strengthen property and consider insurance.
• Drop Cover and Hold On when the earth shakes.
• Improve Safety: Evacuate if necessary, help the injured and prevent further injuries or damage around your area.
• Reconnect and Restore: Reconnect with others and repair damages, rebuild your community.

During wildfires, Hurricane Katrina and most recently Irma and Maria, people have experienced what it is like to have your infrastructure just gone in an instant. Kurtz remembers Katrina, and how people were suddenly thrust into a world without phones, internet, power and modern amenities. Californians need to be ready to know what to do when the internet is down and there is no water or power.

"People are dependent upon the internet and take it for granted, as an information and communication tool," Kurtz said. "Something we have found, in such as areas that were hit by hurricanes recently, the entire infrastructure was wiped out as a result of these natural disasters. People were not ready for the 14th century. With no phone, internet or even running water. You have to think about how you would survive, manage or make contact with your loved ones without modern technology."

Most communities have a CERT response team, and Kurtz recommends that this is a great time of year to find your nearest Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and make yourself knowledgeable about how to survive in case of emergency. It can be the difference between waiting to be saved, or being able to save yourself or the ones in your neighborhood.

After an earthquake, "we as an emergency response agency will have our hands full," Kurtz said. "We may not be able to get every call right away, so people need to know where water and gas shut offs are. You need to know how to turn off your neighbors' gas and water, too, as a fire at their home could bring down yours."

These and other methods are taught at CERT classes. Kurtz, a CERT instructor, has assisted CERT program members by teaching them fundamentals of safety and emergency management.

"The courses are offered by individual cities and feature how to manage during a disaster," he said.

Knowing how to be part of the solution matters almost as much if not more than just how to Drop, Cover and Hold On.

"CERT classes can teach people how to manage in your neighborhood and how to be able to help your neighbors out," he said.

According to Kurtz, students will learn the ins and outs of shutting off electrical circuits, basic first aid, how to conduct a search of a collapsed building without endangering yourself, and even extrication exercises with basic tools to lift heavy objects and stabilize them.

"People feel empowered after taking the class, and becoming part of their CERT team," he said. "A class such as this opens their eyes as to possibilities, and in turn, CERT members tend to encourage others to be more proactive, to get to be part of the solution. We highly recommend people sign up and take those."

Register to ShakeOut and find a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) near you.

Great ShakeOut Photo