Monday, October 17, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Release No. 2022-041<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HONOLULU<\/strong> \u2014 \u201cDrop! Cover! Hold On!\u201d Those three simple steps can help save lives and prevent injuries in the case of an earthquake, and Hawai\u2018i will have a chance to practice them this week<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s still time to register for The Great Hawai\u2018i ShakeOut, happening October 20th<\/sup> at 10:20 a.m. HST. The international earthquake preparedness drill aims to raise awareness of earthquake safety, encouraging everyone to practice the three safety steps during a simulated earthquake at their workplace, school, or home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drill is held simultaneously across each time zone, and the Hawai\u2018i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) invites everyone in Hawai\u2018i to join in \u2014 on 10\/20, at 10:20 a.m. More than 24,000 people have signed up so far, and HI-EMA has been running a social media campaign to encourage even more people to #DropCoverHoldOn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earthquakes are one of many hazards we face in Hawai\u2018i, as a recent 5.0 temblor near P\u0101hala on the Big Island reminded us, but we may not be as prepared for them as we are for hurricane and tsunami hazards. While the volcanoes on the Big Island produce hundreds of small tremors, the seismic activity can also produce large quakes that are capable of causing damage statewide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe may only have seconds to protect ourselves when an earthquake happens,\u201d said Luke Meyers, administrator of HI-EMA. \u201cMuch of the danger comes from debris and falling objects, not the shaking of the earthquake alone. Practicing how to respond when a quake strike helps us stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n