Drop, cover and hold on: ‘Shake out’ earthquake training

If the ground beneath your feet starts shaking and someone hollers “Earthquake!” would you know what to do?

Although Eastern Washington is not known for earthquakes, faults are located underground here. A new fault was recently discovered under Spokane, according to Darrell Ruby, Washington State Homeland Security Region 9 Coordinator.

“Washington has an earthquake hazard,” Ruby said. “We have about 1,000 earthquakes every year, but only about a half dozen are felt.”

Ruby will be in Colfax today (Thursday) at the Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting at the county Public Service Building to talk about the Great Washington Shake Out and Drill. At 10:17 a.m. during the meeting, Ruby said he will lead a demonstration to participate in the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” exercise.

“Not everyone will fit under the table,” he said. “It will be a good opportunity to talk about other methods to protect ourselves.”

According to the Shake Out web site, federal, state and local emergency management experts and other officials all agree that “Drop, Cover and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. Earthquake drills are opportunities to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes.

People can’t tell from the initial shaking if an earthquake will suddenly become intense, so emergency officials recommend to always “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”

That means drop to the ground before the earthquake drops you; take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to the shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops.

If there is no table or desk nearby, drop to the ground and then if possible, move to an inside corner of the room. Be in a crawling position to protect your vital organs and be ready to move around during strong shaking.

Ruby said the story about heading for the doorway is a myth. In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house.

Don’t move to another location or outside. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you can’t run or crawl. People are more likely to be injured if they try to move around during strong shaking.

If outside, move to a clear area if you can safely do so and avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles and other hazards.

If driving, pull over to the side of the road, stop and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. If a power line falls on the vehicle, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.

Near a shore, also drop, cover and hold on until the shaking stops. If severe shaking lasts 20 seconds or more, immediately evacuate to high ground as a tsunami might have been generated by the earthquake. Move inland two miles or to land that is at least 100 feet above sea level. Don’t wait for officials to issue a warning.

Dams can fail during a major earthquake. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but if you live downstream from a dam, have a prepared evacuation plan.

Ruby said the west side of the state has a greater risk for earthquakes, but Whitman County lies over the Latah Fault.

“If it were to start shaking, it wouldn’t be as hazardous as the west side,” he said.

Scientists found a new Spokane fault similar to one in New Zealand and continue to study it.

Ruby said a table is ideal because it protects our whole bodies from injury, but chairs offer protection for our heads.

“Just get underneath whatever you can,” he said.

He said he doesn’t know if an earthquake will hit our area in the near future.

“Earthquakes are tremendously difficult to predict,” Ruby said. “I wouldn’t speculate when one might hit this area.”

Ruby encourages residents to go to the Shakeout web site and register.

“Our goal is to have one million participants register,” he said. “I encourage schools, churches, nursing homes and families to register and participate.”

Ruby said the web site will be open for a couple of weeks after the event for participants to register and get more information.

“If you are over on the west side of the state and an earthquake hits, wouldn’t it be nice to know what to do?” Ruby said.