Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill Comes To Trabuco Canyon

TRABUCO CANYON, CA — It's time to "drop, cover and hold on!" FEMA says.

On Thursday, Oct. 17 at 10:17 a.m. local time, millions worldwide will conduct a safety drill for one minute, practicing what to do in the case of a real earthquake.

Patch has found few additional things you can do now to prepare:

• Sign up for AlertOC and Nixle alerts from the City. These notification systems area from reliable sources including law enforcement, fire departments and emergency managers.
• Do a "hazard hunt" for items that might fall in your home during earthquakes and secure them.
• Create a personal or family disaster-preparedness plan.
• Plan for your family's specific needs.
• Teach all household members how to use a fire extinguisher.
• Create wallet cards for each family member with essential contact information.
• Organize or refresh your emergency supply kits.
• Store at least one gallon of water per person, per day, for three days and ideally for two weeks.
• Plan for the needs of you and your family for up to two weeks. Use our Grab and Go list on the website.
• Create kits for your car and office.
• Identify your building's weaknesses. Ask a local earthquake retrofitting contractor for a free structural inspection of your home or building. Also, review your insurance coverage, whether home-owner or renter. Consider whether earthquake insurance is right for you by talking to your agent.
• Create a game where everyone responds to a signal by practicing Drop Cover and Hold On. Talk to your children about what to expect during and after an earthquake.
• Enroll in a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to learn more about how to take care of yourself and your family when you are "on your own" after a disaster.