Start Now to Get Ready for Washington State’s Great Shakeout October Earthquake Drill
Camp Murray, Wash. – Washington will join its Western neighbors in Oregon, Idaho, California and British Columbia in the Great Shakeout
earthquake drill on Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m.
Millions on the West Coast are expected to
participate in a simultaneous “Drop, Cover, Hold” Drill which will emphasize the
importance of emergency preparedness at home, school and the workplace. As part of the
Washington ShakeOut in October, participants are encouraged not only to “Drop, Cover,
and Hold On,” but take at least one additional step to ready themselves and their
families for earthquakes.
Washington State officials hope to register more than
1 million state participants on the exercise website which officially opened this
week at http://www.shakeout.org/washington/.
Part of Washington’s preparation for the multi-state
coordinated drill in October will be a statewide Drop, Cover & Hold
Earthquake Drill at 9:45 a.m. on April 25. The drill
will be initiated through the Emergency Alert System using the required monthly test for state broadcasters.
“Earthquakes are one of the greatest natural hazards
for Washington residents,” said Jim Mullen, Washington Emergency Management
Division (WEMD) director. “The Great Shakeout Drill will boost public awareness of
the state’s earthquake hazard while demonstrating the important of emergency preparedness
at home, school and the workplace.”
For more information about the Great Shakeout, please
contact:
