Is an Altadena Shake-Out Drill a Good Idea?

Is Altadena ready for the "Big One?"

After Novemeber's wind storms caused widespread power outages, many readers on this site and elsewhere wondered how well prepared the city is in case of a more serious emergency, like the massive earthquake seismologists say is overdue to arrive in Southern California.

At Tuesday's meeting of the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, Steve Reagan, a block captain in an East Altadena neigbhorhood, proposed that Altadena help get prepared with a shake-out drill.

These drills, which have been done in other cities and throughout Southern California, are meant to simulate firefighter, paramedic, and other emergency team response, while also giving ordinary citizens a chance to simulate an earthquake response.

Reagan, who has CERT emergency provider training, proposed involving ordinary Altadena residents.  Neighborhoods should figure out who has CERT training, who has needed supplies, and come up with basic plans for how to respond after an emergency, he said.

He said the best way to start would be to form a committee to come up with a date, a plan and a communications strategy for making the drill work.

So what do you think reader?  Is this plan viable?  Do you think these type of emergency preparedness drills really help get people ready for the real thing?  What have you done or what do you plan to do to get ready for an earthquake?  Let us know in the comments section below.