Great Southern California Shakeout Preparedness Exercise

(2008-11-14 14:00:00.0)

November 13, 2008 - Millions from around the world took part in the US sponsored quake drill on November 13, 2008. Residents across southern California, one of America most earthquake-prone states, took part in what organizers say was America biggest-ever earthquake drill. The exercise was called The Great Southern California Shake-out. Beginning at 1000 local time in Southern California (1800 GMT), millions of participants across the region performed drop, cover and hold on procedures - drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy desk and hold on until the shaking stops. It was based on the hypothetical scenario of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault. The emergency response exercise involved more than 5,000 people from local, state and federal agencies. It included triage and search-and-rescue exercises Schools, hospitals and businesses took part as rescue workers. . Organizers utilized 300 scientists to develop the scenario for the drill. The scenario earthquake would, they say, cause 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries and $200 bn (£134 bn) in damage. In Southern California. A similar sized quake in Sichuan Province, China in May 2008 caused an estimated 80,000 deaths. California is The US Geological Survey says it faces a 46% chance of being hit by a magnitude 7.5 or higher earthquake in the next 30 years. The last major earthquake to strike California was in 1994, when a magnitude 6.7 strike left 57 people dead. The great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was about 7.8 and caused some 3,000 deaths in collapsed buildings and fires.