Emergency vehicles unveiled before shakeout drill

It’s the world’s largest earthquake drill. At 10:17 am on the second Thursday of October, millions of people around California will drop, cover and hold on.

“Every year most local governments and fire departments activate basically their disaster plan for the great shakeout and we have a big check list that we run through,” said Rancho Mirage Fire Captain, Jay Ringhofer.

Millions of people will take part in the Great California Shakeout–many of those people here in the Coachella Valley.

“We just want everybody in the community to be prepared,” said Rancho Mirage Emergency Preparedness Commissioner, Linda Holtzman. “To know that if we do have a large earthquake or another major emergency–we could have a chemical spill or a flood or a railroad derailment –we just want everybody to be prepared so we can be successful and safe ourselves and our families.”

As people prepare to shake it out, in Rancho Mirage new additions–a truck and trailer– to the community emergency response team were unveiled. They will be used in emergency situations and to educate by both the city of Rancho Mirage and the Agua Caliente Resort and Spa.

The San Andreas fault that runs through much of California also runs through the Coachella Valley.

“We’ve done a little research on what they’re expecting. They’re expecting a seven plus out here and with an earthquake of that magnitude most of your infrastructure, roadways, utilities will be cut off,” said Captain Ringhofer.

One thing is for sure, you can never be too prepared.