Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
San Mateo County leaders urged residents to be prepared for natural disasters such as earthquakes as they commemorate the anniversary of the Great Earthquake of 1906 on Sunday.
"Although we are emerging from the effects of COVID-19 and the risk of another dangerous fire season caused by the drought, there is an ongoing risk of a major earthquake," said Dan Belville, director of the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services (OES).
In that sense, the official also called on residents to check their emergency supplies and take the necessary measures to be prepared for possible seismic events.
Because April is "Earthquake Prevention Month," the California Office of Emergency Services Early Warning Program (CalOES) reminded people that during an earthquake, seconds count in saving lives.
Dan Belville urged people to download the free MyShake app, which offers early warnings to users, providing seconds before the quake strikes. "It's one of the easiest and most useful actions residents can take in the face of such natural disasters," Bellville said.
"Those precious seconds give users a better opportunity to duck, cover and hold on - cover and hold on if they use a wheelchair," the authority said in a statement.
Earthquake Warning California, the nation's first publicly available statewide warning system, is available on the MyShake application.
Also, wireless emergency alerts (WEAs), which are text messages the U.S. government issues during emergency situations, including presidential emergencies, imminent threats - fire, earthquake, flood, etc. - and AMBER alerts.
"When an earthquake warning is issued from any of these sources, people should quickly take protective measures to keep themselves safe, such as dropping to the ground, covering their heads with their arms and holding their necks with both hands until the shaking stops. Do not stand in doorways or near glass windows," they said.
In that regard, they noted that San Mateo residents should also sign up for county alerts that, while they will not provide early warning of impending tremors, will provide critical instructions in response.
