Tribal Government to Participate in Great Oregon Shakeout
With just a few minutes of practice, you can prepare yourself for the next major earthquake.
That’s why the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians will be participating in this week’s Great Oregon Shakeout and International Shakeout Day, a worldwide rehearsal event that can equip anyone with simple, lifesaving skills before a quake hits.
There are just three, easy-to-remember steps: Drop. Cover. Hold on.
At 10:20 AM on Thursday, October 20, all employees of the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal Government Offices in Roseburg will pause for this quick but important emergency exercise.
Employees will drop to the ground, seek cover while protecting their heads, and hold on for one minute.
At the exact same time, over half a million Oregonians will be going through these same simple procedures that are designed to give everyone a clear plan to stay safe during an earthquake.
Safety experts agree that the best way to prepare for any event is to plan. The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians wants all employees, Tribal members and community members to practice and know how to protect themselves during an earthquake.
“Taking a minute out of your day on October 20 to acknowledge the very real threat of a catastrophic earthquake and to practice the steps you can take to stay safe is a great time investment,” says Monte Bryant, Emergency Management Director for the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe. “Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Being aware of such risks and being prepared for them is one of the cheapest insurance policies a person can have.”
Here in Oregon, it’s possible the “Big One” from the Cascadia Subduction Zone is just around the corner. Scientists say the area along the Oregon Coast and inland could experience an earthquake as catastrophic as 9.0.
That’s why the Great Oregon Shakeout and remembering easy directions like, “Drop, Cover, Hold On” are so crucial to get everyone prepared.
Want to get prepared? Resources for earthquake safety:
There are many steps you, your family, and your work colleagues can take to prepare for a natural disaster like an earthquake.
- Great Shakeout: https://www.shakeout.org/
- Resources from Great Shakeout: https://www.shakeout.org/resources/
- Douglas County Emergency Alert Notifications: https://www.dcso.com/254/Emergency-Notification-System
- How can you make your workplace safer? https://resilientworkplace.org/
- How can you make your home safer? https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_natural-hazards-retrofit-program-tookit.pdf
- Secure hazards around the home and office: https://www.earthquakecountry.org/step1/
- Create an emergency plan with your family: https://www.earthquakecountry.org/step2/
- Do you have emergency kits ready? https://www.earthquakecountry.org/step3/
- The seven steps to earthquake safety: https://www.earthquakecountry.org/sevensteps/
There is also an early earthquake warning system developed by scientists and the US Geological Survey that can give you precious seconds to prepare for an earthquake before it happens.
- What is the ShakeAlert system? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq7eQ6kBgxA
- How do I sign up for ShakeAlerts on my phone? https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-do-i-sign-shakealertr-earthquake-early-warning-system
