Great Clallam County ShakeOut set for Oct. 19
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Local government agencies, businesses and others are getting ready to rumble, in preparation for a region-wide emergency.
The seventh-annual “Great Clallam County ShakeOut” is set for Thursday, Oct. 19. In conjunction with the Great Clallam County ShakeOut, the county-wide All Hazard Alert Broadcast (AHAB) sirens will be tested at 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19 using the actual siren wail sound.
The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups. To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate ShakeOut.org.
Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.
During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” Endorsed by emergency officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to:
• Drop where you are, onto your hands and knees; this position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.
• Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs
• Hold on until the shaking stops. If you are under shelter, hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts. If not, hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.
“You need to practice this drill in order to develop the muscle memory to be able to take the right actions during a disaster,” Clallam County Emergency Management staff said in a press release.
“What better time then during ShakeOut?”
More than 35 million people around the globe are expected to participate; and in addition to safety drills, many participants take extra steps to become more prepared for earthquakes or other disasters.
