Crime & Safety

Hermon Is Ready to Quake, Shake and Respond

Hermon ShakeOut: The Play will on Saturday test residents ability to respond to an earthquake of epic proportions.

Most Southern California residents go about their daily lives with at least a baseline understanding that, sooner or later, "the big one" is going to hit.

"The big one," of course, refers to a large-scale earthquake that would rattle the area's travel infrastructure, destroy homes, knock out power and incapacitate emergency services.

And yet for many--present company included--earthquake preparedness remains a bridge to be crossed when reached (that's only if it doesn't crumble, first).

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On Saturday morning, though, Arroyo residents will have an opportunity to test their earthquake response skills and put some valuable knowledge in their back pocket for when "the big one" does strike.

Hermon ShakeOut: The Play will be conducted on Saturday across the small Northeast L.A. Neighborhood. The drill will simulate a major earthquake, and then test community members' ability to respond to various quake related injuries and incidents.

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From Hermon Resident Wendi Riser's All Things Hermon newsletter.

“Hermon ShakeOut – the Play” is finally here!  This Saturday, October 22, Hermon becomes the site of a huge mock earthquake that hits at 9:20 a.m.  Have your family practice drop, cover, and hold on -- right then.  Of course, if you’re still in bed, practice turning on your stomach and putting your pillow over your head.  Quick, jump into the drill and tune into the ShakeOut broadcast on KFWB 980 AM or KNX 1070 AM.  Then it all starts to unfold around the neighborhood. 

Be at the parking lot (Incident Command and Neighborhood Survival Area) as mock incidents begin to come in.  You can go with teams as they respond to calls for help from four different sites – Hermon Church, Los Angeles International Charter High School, Fresco Market, and Hermon Dog Park.  Each location will have its own challenges distinct to that location, so responders will be able to practice a lot of different skills.   

We’ve never had anything like this before in Hermon, so take this opportunity to be part of it.  Before the drill, review the Hermon Emergency Plan at www.LAsurvival.org -- then, go with responders.  You’ll learn a lot!  Afterwards, end up at Fresco for a fun festival for the community.  Huge thank yous go to Mark Legassie from Hermon and and its Public Safety Committee.  This drill was Mark’s brainchild and has been his passion for the last six months.  Plan to be part of the day and we can all learn how to be even safer.

Legassie recently blogged about the creation of Hermon ShakeOut: The Play for Patch, an effort sparked 's stellar emergenc preparedness plan.


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