Millions across the globe to take part in The Great ShakeOut earthquake drill tomorrow - Polidicks

[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9615994/Millions-to-take-part-in-largest-ever-earthquake-drill.html[/url] [quote=The Telegraph]Families from Los Angeles to New York will dive for cover at 10.18am in each timezone as they rehearse what to do in the event of a major quake. Local radio stations will simulate news announcers warning that a 7.8 magnitude earthquake is about to strike, while ominous rumblings will play in the background. The en masse rehearsal is being coordinated by Shakeout, a Californian group set up to encourage awareness among people living on the San Andreas fault, a tectonic fault line that runs along the West Coast. Major earthquakes are expected to strike the same area every 150 years but it has been nearly 300 years since southern California has been hit, prompting fears of a long-overdue quake. Lance Webster, one of the drill organisers, told the Daily Telegraph: "The natural tendency of people who live in risk areas is to downplay the danger or ignore it. The goal of this is not to frighten people but to give them positive things they can do to prepare and survive." As well as practicing what to do during the initial tremors, Mr Webster said people should prepare emergency supplies of water in anticipation that a major earthquake would disrupt water pipes and road links. More than half of the 9 million Californians due to take part are students, as schools and universities along the West Coast practice their safety procedures. Major corporations like Walmart, Target and Bank of America have also ordered their staff to take participate in the drill. Around 300,000 people outside the United States have signed up, mainly in earthquake risk zones like southern Italy and Japan. New Zealand organised a similar drill in September involving around 1.3 million people - a quarter of the country's population.[/quote] More info about The Great ShakeOut, with region-specific sites so you can sign up: [url]http://shakeout.org/[/url]

I didn't hear about it at all. And apparently I'm right on a plate line?

[QUOTE=Aspen;38082845]I didn't hear about it at all. And apparently I'm right on a plate line?[/QUOTE] Well, you're near the New Madrid fault line, so...

Earthquake drills: 1-Get under something or a doorway 2-put back fallen items Major earthquake: 1-Get under something 2-Get emergency gear/radio 3-Wait outside away from buildings This is basically how California handles earthquakes. 90% or so are nothing major.

I will take part in this, I didn't realize it was a huge thing though. Thought it was just my university doing it.

Sounds useful, it's always good to have a plan for things like this. I'm certainly glad I don't live in an earthquake prone region (midwest US) I'll probably still be asleep when this drill happens too.

Funny Ontario isn't participating, especially with that quake last year that forced all the office buildings downtown where I live to be evacuated.

Found this on their website [img]http://www.shakeout.org/california/images/CAdcho.png[/img] YEAH AN EARTHQUAKE, NOW I DON'T HAVE TO FILE THOSE REPORTS

[QUOTE=RIPBILLYMAYS;38082910]1-Get under something or a doorway[/QUOTE] Isn't that actually a [i]really[/i] bad idea in a real earthquake?

[QUOTE=Fhenexx;38083078]Isn't that actually a [i]really[/i] bad idea in a real earthquake?[/QUOTE] better than standing in the middle of a room while the ceiling collapses on your head

You mean 10/16/12 was a drill???

Isn't it kind of stupid to warn everyone about it in advance? A War of the Worlds kinda broadcast would be much more effective at scaring people into getting to cover (and it'd be much funnier)

I live in the middile of earthquake town LA and I've never heard of this before in my life.

[QUOTE=Fhenexx;38083078]Isn't that actually a [i]really[/i] bad idea in a real earthquake?[/QUOTE] no you want to protect yourself from dangers such as cabinets falling over

I am such an idiot. I saw the thread title and thought millions around the world were going to start literally drilling into the Earth to purposely try to cause a big earthquake. Something's wrong with me.

I saw signs about this at my college and I heard my sociology teacher talking about this. I wasn't really listening though.

My school is having an earthquake drill tomorrow. Now i know why.

We had an earthquake drill at college, a lot of people were confused because back in elementry / high school, it was always accompanied with some waterfall noises and other breaking noises. At college, its someone saying "okay guys we are having an earthquake" 5 seconds laters "okay earthquake is over" and then for two minutes, some woman would be yelling "all clear".

I find it odd that New York would be preparing for a hypothetical 7.8 earthquake. I'm relatively certain that an earthquake that size isn't even remotely possible in the Northeast USA.

It's actually in a fairly high hazard area. The map's a bit blurry, but you can barely see that New York is in an orange or red area. [img]http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/135095/US-FAULT-LINES.jpg[/img]

I don't even feel safe doing earthquake drills. Our school's desks are the size of an XBOX and nobody can fit under their desks because of that.

How often does New York City get an earthquake?

[QUOTE=Fhenexx;38084489]It's actually in a fairly high hazard area. The map's a bit blurry, but you can barely see that New York is in an orange or red area. [img]http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/135095/US-FAULT-LINES.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Wait what? Maui is a hazard area? Since when?

[QUOTE=Corey_Faure;38083592]I am such an idiot. I saw the thread title and thought millions around the world were going to start literally drilling into the Earth to purposely try to cause a big earthquake. Something's wrong with me.[/QUOTE] You aren't the only one, I thought loads of people were going to jump all at once in different points around the world to try and get on the magnitude scale. :v:

[QUOTE=Blitzkrieg Zero;38085487]Wait what? Maui is a hazard area? Since when?[/QUOTE] probably because maui county is right next to the big island

Here's to living in the middle of a continent!

[QUOTE=Mrglitch2000;38085528]You aren't the only one, I thought loads of people were going to jump all at once in different points around the world to try and get on the magnitude scale. :v:[/QUOTE] When I was a Primary School, the whole school actually tried it... but failed ofcourse :suicide: