Earthquake drill prepares Utah residents
Apr 18, 2012 22:52:05 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Apr 18, 2012 22:52:05 GMT -5
Earthquake drill prepares Utah residents
9:10 AM, Apr. 18, 2012 |
Samantha Sadlier
WASHINGTON CITY- At 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, about one million Utah residents participated in The Great Utah ShakeOut to help prepare emergency responders and residents for a possible earthquake by encouraging individuals and families to take part in the "drop, cover and hold" protocol.
According to The Great Utah ShakeOut website, residents used the drop, cover and hold protocol following a mock 7.0 earthquake that rocked the entire state. Each person was told to drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table and hold on until the shaking stops.
Groups throughout the entire state as well as Southern Utah organizations like Dixie Regional Medical Center, the American Red Cross in St. George, businesses, schools and more participated in the event, according to the website.
Terri Draper, spokesperson for Dixie Regional Medical Center, said the hospital took the drill a step further and medical providers, patients and staff were evacuated from the old hospital location on 400 East in St. George to help provide a practice scenario in case some kind of natural disaster or earthquake actually did affect the St. George area.
"We appreciate the opportunity to learn and practice with drills like this one," she said. "It was a successful learning opportunity."
Draper said the hospital staff regularly goes through similar drills in order to remain certified and compliant with federal regulations, but each drill is an important learning experience for the possibility of a large-scale emergency.
"We do feel better prepared, if something were to happen," she said.
Draper said the hospital utilized its Facebook page during the event just like it would in the case of a real earthquake or similar emergency, given the computers and Internet were still working in such an instance.
"We would use our Facebook and Twitter pages to communicate with residents in case of a situation like this," she said.
Disaster Action Team volunteers from Washington and Iron Counties set up a mock shelter at the Washington City Community Center on Tuesday following the earthquake simulation offering residents and volunteers an opportunity to take a look at how the Red Cross would respond in case of an emergency.
www.thespectrum.com/article/20120418/NEWS01/204180322/Earthquake-drill-prepares-Utah-residents