Drop, Cover & Hold On: Get 7 Tips to Prepare You and Your Family for an Earthquake

Edward Henderson | California Black Media(CBM)- This year’s International ShakeOut Day was October 17, when millions of people worldwide participated in earthquake drills at work, school, or home. October also marks the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which devastated the Bay Area. That 6.9 magnitude shock was responsible for 63 deaths and nearly 4,000 injuries.In the aftermath of disastrous storms on the East Coast and with wildfires still raging here in the West, Listos California, the state’s disaster preparedness program, partnered with Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media in partnership to provide vital information to help Californians be prepared in the event of an earthquake.“Preparing can be about securing your space, having an emergency plan, minimizing your hardship after the fact by having important documents organized and in place,” said Amy Palmer, Deputy Director of Crisis Communications and Public Affairs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).While earthquakes remain unpredictable, within the next 30 years, scientists predict there is a 60% chance of a 6.7 magnitude quake hitting the Los Angeles region and a 72% chance for the San Francisco Bay region.The experts say there are seven key safety steps to take to...