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Idaho prepares to shake, rattle, roll — or drop, cover & hold

Throughout the month of October, the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security is encouraging Idahoans to take action in earthquake preparedness and personal responsibility. Preparing for earthquakes is prudent because they are a part of Idaho’s geology, and it is a matter of when – not if – the next earthquake strikes.

A statewide “Drop, Cover, and Hold On Drill” will be Thursday (Oct. 18), at 10:18 a.m. local time. The earthquake exercise will be part of the Great Idaho ShakeOut event in which Idaho will join its neighbors in Oregon, Washington, Nevada and British Columbia, as well as other states and countries, in one of the largest earthquake drills ever. Registering for the drill is easy at www.shakeout.org/idaho. More than 86,000 Idahoans participated in last year’s drill, and so far more than 43,000 have signed up this year. Citizens, schools, businesses and organizations are all encouraged to register.

The “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” drill will emphasize the importance of emergency preparedness at home, school and the work-place. As part of the Great Idaho ShakeOut, Idahoans are encouraged to not only Drop, Cover, and Hold On, but to also take additional steps to make sure they and their families are prepared for natural disasters.

Twenty-nine years ago, on Oct. 28, 1983, the 6.9 Borah Peak earthquake struck central Idaho, causing widespread damage and taking two lives. Idaho has experienced several other damaging earthquakes and is among the most active in terms of the number of earthquakes each year. Large, damaging earthquakes are most likely in the mountainous regions of eastern and central Idaho, but all parts of Idaho are under at least a moderate risk.

“It is important to realize that earthquakes happen on geologic timeframes and Idaho does have a sizeable seismic risk,” said BHS Director Col. Brad Richy. “When we see earthquakes happen across the nation and the globe, and we see that Idaho’s geology demonstrates repeated earthquakes, it reminds us that prudence dictates us to be prepared for the inevitable.”

Since earthquakes are difficult to predict, it is important for all Idahoans to have a disaster plan, a disaster supply kit, and to consider making their homes safer from earthquakes. Detailed earthquake preparedness information is available online by visiting Idaho BHS at www.bhs.idaho.gov. BHS and the Idaho Geological Survey have developed an earthquake preparedness booklet “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country” that contains information on Idaho’s seismology and how to prepare for earthquakes. The booklet is available here. Printed copies are available by e-mailing citizen.corps@bhs.idaho.gov.