Earthquake Preparedness
Living in California there is the constant possibility of an earthquake. The state’s geographical location means that it has numerous faults and cracks deep under the earth’s surface which can shift and move causing earthquakes. Some faults are very large and well known, others smaller. The effects of earthquakes can be widespread affecting many communities, or localized depending on the source, or epicenter, of the quake.
Because there is no effective way to predict an earthquake, it’s important that every organization is prepared for the eventuality of one occurring. In some cases, such as a county or a city, the governing organization must be prepared not only to respond as an employer, but also as part of its responsibility to the community it serves. This may require that there are several plans in place depending on who is affected.
Particularly for earthquakes but also for other emergencies, it’s important that individuals are prepared with plans for themselves and their family. This can help responders to know that an individual or a family has its plan in place.
To get more information on the applicability of this program for a specific County operation please contact the corresponding departmental Safety Coordinator.
For further information on specific regulatory guidelines please refer to the link(s) below.
California Office of Emergency Services
Ready.gov (Earthquake Page)