Combat Center participates in California ShakeOut

Twentynine Palms -- The Combat Center, located in the southern Mojave Desert, finds itself nestled between a number of faults, including the Pinto Mountain, Emerson and Copper Mountain Faults, contributing to a high-level of seismic activity. In order to promote safety in the event of an earthquake, the Combat Center will participate in an earthquake drill as part of the annual Great California ShakeOut alongside millions of people worldwide, Oct. 20, 2016.

The ShakeOut is an opportunity to practice how to be safe during big earthquake and to encourage communities to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies in the event of an earthquake.

During the drill, the Combat Center will be testing the Enterprise Mass Notification System, an interactive community notification system, at 10:20 a.m. as part of an earthquake drill. Base residents are encouraged to practice “Drop, Cover and Hold On,” the appropriate action agreed upon by federal, state, and local emergency management experts in order to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.

• DROP onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.

• COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter otherwise crawl next to an interior wall away from windows. Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.

• HOLD ON until shaking stops. Under shelter, hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts. When no shelter is available, hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

For more information on the Great California ShakeOut, visit www.shakeout.org or contact G-7 Mission Assurance at 830-6074.