A state outreach program sought to shake some sense into Wrangell residents, with a mobile earthquake simulator set up for the public earlier this week.
Each year the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) sends out a mobile trailer unit to different communities in an effort to raise awareness of earthquake risks. The unit arrived in Wrangell on Tuesday, as part of its ongoing tour through Southeast.
Alaska is the most seismically active state in the country, with about 11,000 of various magnitude earthquakes recorded each month. On its site, the state Seismic Hazards Safety Commission estimates about 11 percent of the world’s quakes occur here, driven by tectonic movements of the Pacific plate. The state gets it share of large tremors as well, with three of the eight most powerful earthquakes ever recorded happening in Alaska, including the number two near Anchorage in 1964.
“It’s kind of our biggest risk here in Alaska,” explained Jeremy Zidek, public information officer with DHSEM. Though monitored, quakes are unpredictable and considered no-notice events. As such, Zidek said the best way to mitigate risk is to explain how people can prepare for such events and react when they happen.
The mobile display simulates a 7.1-magnitude earthquake, considered a major event but which Alaska on average experiences once per year. Up to four participants can use it at a time, seated in soft chairs with neck support and a safety handle. The simulator pitches and rocks back and forth for a minute, giving riders an idea of how jarring and violent a quake can be.
“A real earthquake is going to be much more dynamic, and roll in different directions,” Zidek pointed out.
In an earthquake the main cause of injury tends to be either from falling down or being struck by household objects. In the simulator, a mock-up media room demonstrates how printers, screens and other objects can jerk around in the event of a strong tremor. Objects hung on the walls, pieces of furniture and even light fixtures can pose a problem for people caught indoors, while power lines, tree limbs and other environmental objects threaten those outside.
Because of this, the preferred method is to drop to the ground, find cover and stay put. A table or bed are examples of such cover inside the home, while a desk or workbench may be suitable at the workplace.
“Most people get injured when they’re trying to go somewhere,” said Chad Fullner, a DHSEM outreach coordinator running the simulator. “You’re better off where you are,” until the quake passes. But he acknowledged this can be difficult in practice.
Caught on his lawn during a sizable earthquake in Anchorage earlier this year, Fullner found himself having to fight the urge to run inside the house to help his family. Under the circumstances, he said there wouldn’t have been much he could do, and doing so might have put him at risk of injury.
“It was interesting to watch my own reaction,” he said.
One way to reduce the risk of being struck by falling items is to make sure they are secure beforehand. Zidek suggested simple measures like using straps or screws to secure bookcases and standing pieces of furniture. Light fixtures ought to be securely bolted, while heavy objects and decorative pieces like mirrors shouldn’t be kept on the wall over one’s bed or seating arrangements.
Water heaters are another item to be mindful of. Heavy and cumbersome, they should be secured to the wall with metal clamps or strips to prevent toppling. Depending on its connection, a falling heater can cause a gas break and fire, and can otherwise cause serious injury in close quarters.
“It really doesn’t cost that much,” Zidek said of the different fixes.
Another thing residents ought to consider is what happens after a quake has ended. A more immediate hazard for coastal communities is that of a tsunami. In such situations, once the earthquake has stopped, Zidek said people should follow their local emergency plans and head for higher ground.
“That is their sign to evacuate,” he said. Each community is different, and so would have a unique response to various disasters.
While Wrangell has an emergency planning page under the public safety section of its website, it is currently blank. The Police Department does maintain a comprehensive response plan for disasters that include earthquakes and tsunamis, which is updated and maintained in a physical binder at its office.
Part of good planning is also making sure to have supplies and essentials on hand for extended service outages following a disaster. Though three days is a generally accepted amount of time to prepare for, Zidek said the state of Alaska advises residents to be prepared for at least a week due to its unique logistical challenges.
Due to ferry scheduling, the earthquake simulator was only able to stay in Wrangell for a day. Its operators set up under the pavilion next to Evergreen Elementary School for most of the morning and afternoon, allowing students the chance to take a bumpy ride and learn about earthquake preparedness. Despite the heavy rainfall, the simulator was then moved to the City Hall parking lot at 3 p.m., giving the general public an opportunity to experience it.
The tour was paid for through an Emergency Management Program grant, allowing DHSEM to perform such outreach to different communities. The current simulator has been in service since 2012, after a smaller-model predecessor finally rattled its last shake. Zidek pointed out the simulator reaches thousands of Alaskans each year, setting up at state fairs and a wide variety of public events. The experience is meant to remind people how forceful an earthquake can be, while providing an opportunity to brush up on tips to stay safe.
“It’s been a really good purchase for us,” he said. “Every Alaskan needs to know what to do when an earthquake occurs.”
For more information on the state’s disaster preparedness program, as well as tips on how to prepare for and respond to an emergency, visit the DHSEM site at http://www.ready.alaska.gov.
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