There are more than 15,000 known faults in California , according to the California Geological Survey and scientists don't know exactly when one will erupt and cause a devasting earthquake. So, to help millions of Californians be better prepared for earthquakes, the California ShakeOut Tour , with its mobile earthquake simulator, has been visiting communities across the state. This powerful tool gives Californians a taste of what a big earthquake might feel like. The immersive experience is not just about the thrill; it’s about education and readiness.
“Today we’re trying to push preparedness for earthquakes,” said Brandon, an emergency service coordinator with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) during a demonstration at Sacramento State University. “We brought the shake trailer here to simulate a magnitude 7.0 earthquake.”
The timing of the tour is significant, as it led up to ShakeOut Day on October 17th. This year, the annual drill coincided with the 35 th anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake .
The earthquake simulator has been a hit at various locations, including UC San Diego and Los Angeles. Howland added, “A lot of people in California, they don’t have an experience of a real earthquake… They’re like, wow, I wasn’t expecting that much shaking to occur!” This firsthand experience is crucial in helping people to understand the importance of protective actions like “drop, cover, and hold on.”
Visitors to the simulator also shared their thoughts and experiences. Dominic and Steven, two participants, found the experience eye-opening. “It was pretty cool… everything was shaking, it was fast,” said Dominic. Steven, who had experienced a smaller earthquake before, said: “I was in a 5.6, but yeah, that’s a pretty big difference.” Most Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault, so demonstrations like these are crucial to raise awareness about earthquake safety.
For some, like Diana, the simulator was a first encounter with just how powerful earthquake shaking can be. “I’ve never been in an earthquake before… that was scary,” she admitted. The simulator is effective because it helps to educate while also giving people a sense of urgency and awareness about earthquake preparedness.
Elsina, another visitor, shared her concerns and suggestions for better preparedness. “It’s scary. It makes me want to go back home,” she said, recalling her past experiences with earthquakes. She also spoke about the need for early warning systems,like the MyShake app.
California has lots of homes that are vulnerable to earthquake damage – and many of them are in San Diego and LA, where the ShakeOut Tour visited. That vulnerability is why the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) formed a partnership with Cal OES in an ongoing effort to support CA residents to strengthen their homes against earthquake damage. To date that partnership has led to more than 27,000 residents receiving grants to make their homes less vulnerable to earthquake damage. More homeowners can apply for a grant of up to $13,000 here , if they have a type of home known as soft–story house.
The California ShakeOut Tour, with its earthquake simulator, is a powerful reminder of just how important preparedness can be. Visit the ShakeOut website , download the MyShake app, and go to earthquake.ca.gov to learn more about how you can prepare for the next big earthquake.