Earthquake Preparedness – Drop Cover & Hold on

On Thursday, October 15th, we will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in The Great ShakeOut as SanMar Canada takes part in the largest earthquake drill in Canadian history!

We need to be better prepared for major earthquakes, and know how to protect ourselves when they happen. The purpose of the ShakeOut is to help people and organizations do both. While potential earthquake hazards depend on your location, no place has zero hazards. On January 26, 1700, a magnitude 9 earthquake (similar to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake off the coast of Japan) shook the entire BC west coast as well as Washington, Oregon, and California, and it generated a massive four-story tsunami as far as Japan 9 hours later.

Federal, provincial, and local emergency management experts as well as other official preparedness organizations all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. The ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes.

Official rescue teams who have been dispatched to the scene of disasters around the world continue to advocate use of the internationally recognized “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” protocol to protect lives during earthquakes:

DROP to the ground (before the earthquake topples you!). Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and. HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your neck and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table. The main point is to try not to move and immediately protect yourself as best as possible where you are. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl; you will most likely be knocked to the ground wherever you happen to be. The initial jolt may turn out to be start of the big one, so prompt efforts on your part to protect yourself are crucial. You should Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately!

In addition, studies of injuries and deaths caused by earthquakes over the last several decades indicate you are much more likely to be injured by falling or flying objects (TVs, lamps, glass, bookcases, etc.) than to die in a collapsed building. Drop, Cover, and Hold On offers the best overall level of protection in most situations. As with anything, practice makes perfect!