EVENTS
 
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On October 15, at 10:15am, Southern California will make history!  Millions of
people in Southern California will participate in the largest ever Earthquake
preparedness drill ever!  At 10:15 a.m. on October15, 2009, millions of
people in homes, schools, businesses, government offices, and public places
all over southern California will Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Why? An
enormous earthquake is in our future, and the ShakeOut Drill is our chance
to practice what to do when it happens.   What can you do to prepare?  
Participate, that's what you can do!  

Last year, more than 5.4 million Southern Californian's participated in the
2008 ShakeOut.  As a statewide drill in 2009, this number could be doubled!  
But we can only count you as a part of the ShakeOut if you register at: www.
shakeout.org/register.  As of July 15, nearly 2.7 million participants are
already registered statewide.  Won't you please become an important
participant in this ever important drill?

Everyone can participate!  Individuals, families, businesses, schools,
government agencies and organizations are all invited to register.  Your
involvement in the ShakeOut inspires many others to register and hold their
own drills.  Please encourage your family, friends and co-workers to
participate.  

Why is important to do a Drop, Cover, Hold On drill? Just as with anything, to
act quickly you must practice, practice, practice. In a big earthquake, there
may be very little time to protect yourself before strong shaking knocks you
down or drops something on you. Most earthquakes have a sharp jolt a few
seconds before the strong shaking, and we need to Drop, Cover, Hold On
immediately when we feel the jolt. By practicing we will act quickly, rather than
waiting to see if the earthquake will be large. If it is, it may be too late to
protect yourself. ShakeOut. Don't FreakOut.

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.

Dr. Lucy Jones of the U.S. Geological Survey has led a group of over 300
scientists, engineers, and others to study the likely consequences of this
potential earthquake in great detail. The result is the ShakeOut Earthquake
Scenario, which is also the basis of this year’s statewide emergency
response exercise, Golden Guardian 2008.

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.

We here at Burke's Disaster Services take Disaster Preparedness seriously!  
As an Industry leader in the Disaster Preparedness Business, Burke will be
sending out not just eight (8) teams like last year.  We will be sending out
seventeen (24) different teams all around various sites in Southern California
to help other agencies to prepare.  Burke has worked hard to train her
people and to make this a HUGE event this year.  At our local offices in
Redondo Beach, we will have our entire staff participate at a local level.  We
want your participation to.  You may register to participate by signing up at:
www.Shakeout.org.  Please, take the time to find out more about this ever
important drill.  It might be the most important 2 minutes of your life.  Infact,
you could be saving your own!  
Questions?  Call us at: 310-465-5137 or e-mail us at:
pyroburke@aol.com