EDITOR: The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES)
reminds you that before you sit down to watch the upcoming
miniseries 10.5 – take some time to separate fact from fiction.
EDITOR:
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) reminds you that before you sit down to watch the upcoming miniseries 10.5 – take some time to separate fact from fiction.
No matter where you live, work, or travel in California, the earthquake risk is there and you must be ready for it. The first step in being prepared is understanding that Hollywood’s upcoming earthquake miniseries puts myth, fantasy and entertainment before factual science.
Earthquake experts agree that the catastrophic damage depicted in the film is unrealistic. California will not fall into the Pacific Ocean, and huge crevasses will not suddenly open up in the earth. Likewise, there will not be widespread collapse of buildings, bridges other structures. California’s building codes ensure that newer structures will not suffer major collapses.
The bottom line for Californians is that there is no sense being frightened by NBC’s science fantasy. Earthquakes will occur and we can prepare to protect ourselves and get out safely.
At work or home – do you know where to go to protect yourself? Identify tables, or desks you can duck and cover under during a quake. Or duck, and cover your head against an interior wall, making sure to stay away from windows, tall pieces of furniture or objects hanging from walls. Remember, earthquakes don’t kill people, falling objects do.
Where will you go when the shaking stops? At home or work, identify a safe location that you can go to outside once the shaking has stopped and make sure your coworkers and family are aware of the location and practice evacuating.
If you’re separated from your family, whom will you call? Ahead of time, identify a friend or extended family member outside your area that you and your family can check in with following an emergency. Don’t try to call one another, as phone lines in the area of the emergency will be busy.
If emergency crews cannot get to you, can you be self-sufficient? Do you have enough emergency supplies for three days – Food, water, non-perishable food, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, extra blankets and clothing, battery-powered radio, and essential medications? If fire and law enforcement officials can’t get to you, then you need to be prepared to take care of yourself and those around you.
Every year California experiences thousands of earthquakes. Most are so small we don’t feel them while several hundred are felt each year. No matter what, we don’t need to be scared – we need to be prepared.
Learn more about preparing for an earthquake; visit the OES Web site at – www.oes.ca.gov.
To find out more about earthquake science and separating the fact and fiction behind 10.5:
Visit the California Geological Survey at http://www.consrv.ca.gov/index/Earthquakes/qh_earthquakes_10.5_Miniseries_Index.htm
Or the U.S. Geological Survey at www.usgs.gov
Dallas Jones, Director
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Editor’s note: The mini-series airs at 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
