The 10 a.m. PST on Nov. 13 the drill will simulate what might occur during and after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the U.S. West Coast. The exercise is based on a USGS scenario created with emergency responders, power, water and transportation departments, social scientists, engineers and others.
October 29, 2008
UPI
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29 (UPI) — The U.S. Geological Survey says it's preparing for the largest earthquake drill in the nation's history – the Great Southern California ShakeOut.
Video: The Great Southern California ShakeOut is based on a potential magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault – approximately 5,000 times larger than the magnitude 5.4 earthquake that shook southern California on July 29. It’s not a matter of if an earthquake of this size will happen – but when. And it is possible that it will happen in our lifetime.
In an earthquake of this size, the shaking will last for nearly two minutes. The strongest shaking will occur near the fault (in the projected earthquake, the Coachella Valley, Inland Empire and Antelope Valley). Pockets of strong shaking will form away from the fault where sediments trap the waves (in the projected earthquake, it would occur in the San Gabriel Valley and in East Los Angeles).
An earthquake of this size will cause unprecedented damage to Southern California – greatly dwarfing the massive damage that occurred in Northridge’s 6.7-magnitude earthquake in 1994. In summary, the ShakeOut Scenario estimates this earthquake will cause some 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries, $200 billion in damage and other losses, and severe, long-lasting disruption. The report has regional implications and is a dramatic call to action for preparedness. Unless we take action today, there will be major losses of life and property.
"We wanted to understand not just what this would physically do, but what this would do to our society," said USGS earthquake researcher Lucy Jones. "By putting that picture together, we've created something that's a lot more useful because it matters to people."
Image: Instrumental Intensity, Magnitude 7.8, Southern San Andreas Fault
In the scenario, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake – about the same magnitude as earthquakes that struck California in 1857 and 1906 – occurs on the San Andreas Fault, affecting much of Southern California.
"A big San Andreas earthquake is inevitable, and it's something every Southern Californian should be ready for," said Jones. She said the earthquake in the drill scenario would lead to 1,800 deaths and more than $200 billion in losses.
The USGS said nearly five million people have already registered to take part in the ShakeOut drill.
More information is available at www.shakeout.org.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2008/10/29/California_gets_ready_for_earthquake_drill/UPI-31441225301136/