Are you ready for the big one?

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake that shook San Francisco, resulting in a partial collaspse of the Bay Bridge as well millions of dollars in residential and commerical destruction. As part of San Francisco’s and our own disaster preparedness, United Way of the Bay Area employees are participating in the Great Shakeout.

At 10:15 a.m. on October 15, 2009, millions of Californians will practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On. 280,000 people in San Francisco have registered to participate in the drill, and more than 6.4 million have registered statewide. When the alarm sounds, hundreds of thousands people will simultaneously drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk, and hold on to it as if a major earthquake were happening (the goal is stay down for at least 60 seconds). To learn more about how to react in case of actual earthquake emergency, visit www.dropcoverholdon.org

To learn more about how you can get prepared for any kind of disaster, be sure and visit the Great Shakeout online to find out what to do in case of earthquake and much more. Remember, one of the most important things each of us can do is to build a disaster kit with essentials like water, food, first aid supplies, medications and anything else you or your loved ones would need to survive the first 72 hours.

Remember that after a real disaster by calling 2-1-1 you can find out information about emergency shelters, evacuation routes, and Bay Area nonprofits who are providing relief services.  2-1-1 is fast, free and confidential. After an emergency, if you are not sure where to turn, 2-1-1 can help.