WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – If you weren’t here during the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, all the rumbling about “The Big One” to come probably seems like just so much talk. It’s true we don’t know when, or if, we’ll ever experience the predicted massive earthquake; however, it’s also true that we already get about 1,000 – every year – in Washington state. Most of those earthquakes are on our side of the Cascades.
Most of those many shakers don’t cause damage and may not be felt. But as stock analysts are fond of saying: prior performance is not indicative of future results. So, to flip that, just because we’ve not recently had a debilitating earthquake doesn’t mean we should fail to prepare for one.
And here’s the easiest way to get ready: participate in the Great ShakeOut. Every year on the third Thursday of October locals join with others around the globe to practice the one thing we must do during an earthquake: drop to the ground, take cover our head and neck under a desk, table or chair – and hold on until shaking stops.
According to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, an earthquake can last few seconds or several minutes. And after-shocks will follow as the earth readjusts to its post-quake alignment. That can be a long time to think about what we should’ve done to get ready.
In the days leading up the Great ShakeOut on Oct. 17, here are three things you can do to be better prepared:
- Sign up for alerts and warnings
- MyShake – for earthquakes near you
- Konexus AlertSense – to be notified by Emergency Management of disasters and the potential for evacuation.
- Build a “go bag” – include everything you (and your pets or livestock) will need in the immediate aftermath of a debilitating event, such as
- A change of clothes and a jacket
- Required medicines
- Food and water
- Radio, cellphone and charger
- Cash, vital papers and essential information
- Have a plan of action for each place you spend most of your time, for instance
- At work
- Your vehicle
- At home
For more information on the ShakeOut drill (in English and Spanish) check out this video, to learn more about earthquakes and our risk in Washington, visit the state’s emergency management page.
By the way, if you do remember the Nisqually ‘quake, you may have grown up during the era when we were advised to stand in a doorway or run outside. Neither of those is recommended any longer; they can actually put you in greater danger. The safest course when shaking starts is drop, cover and hold on.
Amy Cloud is the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management. She was born and raised locally, leaving for Whitman College and work in Seattle, Knoxville and Washington, D.C. She returned to work as Supervising News Producer and reporter for KVOS-TV’s NewsView before switching to communications for WWU, PeaceHealth and the City of Bellingham. She also co-chairs the Community PIO Group and is a member of the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues.
