VIDEOS: Oakland officials participated in “The Great California Shakeout” on Thursday morning and called on members of the public to be prepared in the event of a major earthquake. Mayor Barbara Lee was joined by first responders in front of Oakland City Hall to urge residents to participate in the drill, which takes place annually on Oct. 16 in remembrance of the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 that resulted in numerous deaths, injuries, and damage across the Bay Area.
Coincidentally, a 3.1-magnitude earthquake shook the University of California, Berkeley campus less than an hour before the press conference, and the mayor mentioned that to demonstrate the importance of preparedness for local communities. “We want to remind everyone to drop, cover, and hold during an earthquake. And to not stand in a doorway!” said Lee. Speaking alongside Lee was Tim Dawson, seismic hazards program manager with the California Geological Survey, who said nearly 70% of Californians live near an active fault that could experience a large earthquake.
