Drop, cover, hold on, and then get two weeks ready
Posted on Oct 06, 2017 By Site Admin
Drop, cover, hold on, and then get two weeks ready
Great Washington ShakeOut is Oct. 19; Superintendent Reykdal participates at White River School District
Washington residents have a chance to practice their earthquake readiness on Oct. 19 during the Great Washington ShakeOut – a time when communities, families, businesses and schools practice their drop, cover and hold on skills and do on more thing, such as adding to their emergency supplies.
The Washington Emergency Management Division is no longer recommending residents be three days prepared, but, instead, be two weeks ready – in case of a big earthquake. Some communities may need even more emergency supplies.
Chris Reykdal, the state superintendent of public instruction, will join students in the White River School District in Buckley for their drill and will talk emergency preparedness with school leaders. More than 600,000 students, teachers and school staff have signed up for the annual ShakeOut event.
“We live in one of the most beautiful states in the country,” Reykdal said. “But living here has seismic risks. It’s crucial for students to know how to respond if there is an earthquake. I’m excited to be at White River and see how students practice their drop, cover and hold skills.”
Last year, more than 1.1 million residents signed up for the state’s largest earthquake drill. Registration at shakeout.org/washington isn’t required, but helps us tally up how many are participating. In addition, tsunami alert sirens will be tested on Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m. using the real sound of the siren, not the Westminster Chimes that typically happen during the monthly tests. NOAA weather radios set to receive the required monthly test will also activate during this test. The tests will happen across every coastal community in the state, except for Sandy Point in Whatcom County, which has opted out of the test. The state works with local jurisdictions to install the All Hazard Alert Broadcast sirens on the coast. Five new sirens are being installed this month in Seabrook, Ocean Shores, Bellingham, Port of Chinook and Raymond bringing the total number of coastal sirens to 69.
Preparedness will be key in surviving the next big earthquake to hit the Pacific Northwest. That means being prepared for what you need and where you live – with up to two weeks’ worth of supplies and an emergency “go” kit. For those living on the coast, know your evacuation routes and the warning signs for tsunamis – including how NOAA Weather Radios work and the coastal sirens.
This is Washington State’s sixth year of participation in the Great ShakeOut initiative.
New this year, middle school and high school students are creating videos to show the best ways to drop, cover and hold on. Prizes are being awarded by our partners at the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup. The deadline to submit is Oct. 13. More information found here: https://www.mil.wa.gov/uploads/pdf/video-contest.pdf
Question and Answer sessions with earthquake experts will be done using Facebook Live and Washington Emergency Management’s Nextdoor account in the days before ShakeOut. On Oct. 19, from noon to 2 p.m., earthquake preparedness experts from the Washington Emergency Management Division will join scientists with the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network to gather online for a Reddit Ask Me Anything – an online Q&A. The public is invited to ask questions at https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/
We also encourage participants to take photos of themselves participating in the drill and post those photos to social media using the hashtag #ShakeOut or tag our Twitter account at @waShakeOut.
For media interested in covering the Great Washington ShakeOut, a number of schools will make themselves available. The ShakeOut begins at 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19.
Earthquake preparedness experts are also available for interviews in the days before ShakeOut.
IN BUCKLEY : Join Chris Reykdal, State Superintendent of Public Schools, during the ShakeOut drills in the White River School District. Reykdal will be available for media interviews after the fact. Contact Nathan Olson for the specific school and to join Reykdal at (360) 725-6015 or nathan.olson@k12.wa.us
IN SEATTLE: Seattle Public Schools will make Genesee Hill Elementary at 5013 SW Dakota Street, Seattle available as youth practice their drop, cover and hold on skills. Contact Kim Schmanke at (206) 252-0203 or kaschmanke@seattleschools.org for more information.
IN TACOMA: Franklin Pierce School District will conduct a formal media event at request of media. Contact Katie Gillespie of Franklin Pierce School District at (253) 298-3010 or kgillespie@fpschools.org for more information.
IN BREMERTON: For media interested in video or photos before or during ShakeOut, the Washington Youth Academy in Bremerton will make itself available to have its students practice earthquake safety in advance of Oct. 19 or on that day. Contact Director Larry Pierce at (360) 473-2609 or larry.pierce@mil.wa.gov.
Other media outlets can customize their coverage and find local residents, businesses and schools participating through a searchable registry on the website: http://shakeout.org/washington/whoisparticipating/
