At 10:21 a.m. Thursday, sirens will scream across the North Olympic Peninsula to remind residents to “drop, cover and hold on” during the 2021 ShakeOut.
The practice drill, which aims to prepare residents for an earthquake, will be announced by the All Hazard sirens in Clallam and Jefferson counties. NOAA Weather Radios also will sound alarms.
“It is important to drill the drop, cover and hold on procedure for the simple reason that practice makes perfect,” according to the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management, in a press release.
When residents first feel the shaking from an earthquake, they are advised to drop to the floor and cover their necks and heads with one arm. As soon as possible, get under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture and hold on until the shaking stops.
Residents are advised not to run outside because breaking glass, bricks and other falling objects such as trees and power lines can cause injury.
Instead, they should stay inside and away from windows, outside doors or walls and anything that could fall such as light fixtures or heavy objects, shelves or artwork, emergency management personnel said.
If people are outdoors when an earthquake hits, they are advised to move away from buildings, streetlights, utility wires and trees, find an open area and stay there.
“The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings at exits and next to exterior walls,” the Jefferson County emergency management personnel said.
Those in moving vehicles when an earthquake hits are advised to stop as quickly and safely as possible — away from buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires — and stay in the vehicle.
Residents also are advised to include walk-throughs in homes and offices as part of the ShakeOut drill to survey each room for objects that could easily fall and cause injury.
“For example, if you have some framed artwork on the wall over the head of your bed, consider replacing it with the quilt your grandma made or something much smaller and lighter in weight,” Jefferson County emergency management personnel said.
More than 7,000 residents of Clallam County have registered to participate, according to the Clallam County Emergency Management Department. Registration is free at ShakeOut.org.
The ShakeOut is coordinated by Washington state, Clallam and Jefferson counties, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of other partners.
ShakeOut is coordinated globally by the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California.
For more information, go to shakeout.org/washington/whyparticipate.
Jefferson County also offers a Think, Plan, Do guide at bit.ly/thinkplando.
