California ShakeOut is Oct. 20

Every Leisure World shareholder is encouraged to participate in this year’s ShakeOut by practicing the Drop, Cover and Hold On exercises on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 10:20 a.m.

The ShakeOut began in Southern California in 2008 as a drill designed to educate the public about how to protect themselves during a large earthquake and how to get prepared. Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are now held in more than 20 official ShakeOut regions, along with an option for people in any other state or county to also register and be counted in the global total earthquake drills.

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep underneath the earth’s surface.

Earthquakes can happen without warning and can result in injuries and damage to property and roads. Earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. While they can happen anywhere, areas at higher risk include California.

If an earthquake happens, immediately protect yourself:

• If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

• If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.

• If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings.

• Do not get in a doorway.

• Do not run outside.

Stay Safe During an Earthquake Drop, Cover and Hold On

• Drop: Wherever you are, drop down on to your hands and knees. If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.

• Cover: Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Crawl only if you can reach better cover without going through an area with more debris. Stay on your knees or bent over to protect vital organs.

• Hold On: If you are under a table or desk, hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it if it moves. If seated and unable to drop to the floor, bend forward, cover your head with your arms and hold on to your neck with both hands.

Prepare Before an Earthquake

The best time to prepare for any disaster is before it happens.

• Practice Drop, Cover and Hold On with family and coworkers.

• Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.

• Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated.

• Make a supply kit that includes enough food and water for at least three days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle.

Stay Safe After an Earthquake

• If an earthquake has just happened, there can be serious hazards, such as damage to the building, leaking water lines or downed power lines.

• Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake.

• Check yourself for injury and help others if you have training. Sign up now for disaster training classes like CERT.

• If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings.

• When trapped, protect your mouth, nose and eyes from dust. Send a text, bang on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle instead of shouting to help rescuers locate you.

• Text messages may be more reliable than phone calls.

• Once you are safe, listen to news reports for information and instructions via batteryoperated radio, TV, social media or from cell phone text alerts.

• Be careful during postdisaster cleanup of buildings and around debris. Do not attempt to remove heavy debris by yourself.

• Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves and sturdy, thick-soled shoes during cleanup.

• Register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well at redcross.org so people will know you are okay.

—Eloy Gomez, GRF Safety & Emergency Coordinator