March 4, 2008
Emergency management officials prepare for catastrophic earthquake
Wide coalition tests plans for Seattle Fault quake
Earthquakes are the Puget Sound region's biggest threat and local emergency management officials are preparing now for the next big one. On Wednesday, March 5th over 50 local public and private sector agencies are testing emergency plans and communications by participating in a catastrophic earthquake exercise dubbed "Sound Shake ‘08".
"This scenario is our region's Hurricane Katrina," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "We must continue to test our emergency plans and systems with exercises such as Sound Shake. This will be an opportunity for us to continually improve our readiness."
Headed by the City of Seattle, King and Snohomish Counties, the City of Bellevue and the State of Washington, Sound Shake ‘08 will simulate the effects of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake along the Seattle Fault. Based on the Seattle Fault Earthquake Scenario, a study written by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, the exercise will mock-up serious impacts to the region's transportation and communications systems. Additionally the scenario plan includes extended power outages, utility disruptions, and impacts to the health care system.
The involvement of numerous levels of government along with private companies is also seen as a key piece to the exercise.
"The effects of a large scale earthquake won't stop at a city or county line, or only impact the public sector," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "Sound Shake gives us a excellent opportunity to put our region's collaborative emergency planning to a test. We know that we must be able to communicate and respond together as a region."
While local officials conduct exercises such as Sound Shake to improve government readiness, residents of the Puget Sound region are encouraged to become personally prepared for earthquakes or other emergencies. Officials recommend three simple steps to improve personal and family preparedness: Make an emergency family communications plan, build an emergency supply kit and get involved in your community's preparedness. To find more information visit www.3days3ways.org.