International ShakeOut Day

This article was written by BenitoLink intern Ashlyn Manninen. Lea este artículo en español aquí.

This Thursday, Oct. 17, marks 35 years since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake shook the entire Bay Area and surrounding areas and is also International ShakeOut Day—an annual earthquake preparedness event. 

San Benito County is one of three self proclaimed “earthquake capitals of California,” and is no stranger to earthquakes, with both the San Andreas and Calaveras fault lines running through the county. According to Earthquaketrack, Hollister and San Juan Bautista have had 43 earthquakes in the past 30 days alone, most of them being small and unnoticeable.  

The purpose of International ShakeOut day is to ensure people are prepared for an earthquake, by encouraging earthquake drills and safety. The annual event isn’t something you go to, but is something you can participate in at home, work, or school. 

The event will take place at 10:17 a.m., and will last one minute. During this minute, participants are supposed to practice a drill known as “Drop, Cover, and Hold on.” Anyone can register to join online at shakeout.org. 

The Shakeout website gives information on how to register, prepare, and participate, as well as information specific to each area, including how many people and types of organizations that are participating. Once they have done the drill, participants can fill out a certification of completion. 

With two major faults running through the county, there are multiple places where one can see some of the effects earthquakes have had on the area. The Calaveras fault runs right through downtown Hollister near Powell St. and eventually ends up splitting in Dunne Park. You can see shifts in the curb and sidewalk on Sixth and Seventh Streets near the park, which are due to the right lateral strike-slip movement of the fault.

The San Andreas fault runs through the Hollister Hills, and San Juan Bautista, with Old Mission San Juan Bautista and Plaza being directly on the fault line. The fault runs along the historic grandstand along the El Camino Real and there are views of the San Andreas Fault escarpment from the Mission. 

Another way to be prepared for an earthquake is to be connected with Earthquake Warning California, a statewide warning system that can detect earthquakes seconds before we feel them. MyShake app, Android earthquake alerts, and wireless emergency alerts are all ways that a person can receive earthquake warnings.  

The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour, United Way, Taylor Farms and the Emma Bowen Foundation.

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