The ShakeOut is an annual earthquake drill and preparedness
activity put on by the Earthquake Country Alliance. Everyone is
welcome to participate. Find out more at www.earthquakecountry.org.
California is covered by earthquake fault zones and often tops
the list of a hospital’s Hazards Vulnerability Analysis
report. Earthquakes can result in structural damage, loss
of utilities, loss of transportation corridors, loss of equipment
and supplies, and a surge in patients. The Great ShakeOut
is scheduled for October 18th, 2018. Hospitals
are encouraged to register and participate in the Drop, Cover,
and Hold On drill along with millions of others around the world.
With earthquakes as an inevitable part of our future, healthcare
partners should make plans and take actions to ensure that
disasters do not become catastrophes. What we do now, will
determine what our lives will be like afterwards.
With this in mind, the Earthquake Country Alliance (www.earthquakecountry.org)
created the ShakeOut, an earthquake drill and preparedness
activity in which everyone can participate. To register as
a ShakeOut participant, go to our website (www.shakeout.org) and sign up for
the drill in your area.
In particular, healthcare partners of all sizes can use the drill
to get their staff, volunteers, partners, and even their
patients/residents, involved and prepared for a big earthquake.
Furthermore, the level of your staffs’ own personal and family
preparedness will be key to their availability to support your
organization’s response and recovery efforts after a disaster.