Mayor Pro Tem Dante Acosta recently joined “Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Talk” on KHTS AM-1220 to provide Santa Clarita residents with advice about how to prepare for an earthquake, and what to do when one strikes.

“Earthquakes are a daily threat in California and we need to make appropriate steps to be ready,” said Acosta. “Since we live in earthquake country, we have to be prepared (because) eventually it is going to happen.”

Acosta noted that when an earthquake hits, the majority of people often have a “flight reaction,” but he stressed that the best thing to do is actually stay as still as possible while looking for a safe place to take shelter.

“We want to make sure people know that they only want to move as far as necessary to reach a safe place — get under a sturdy desk or a table and hold on,” he explained. “That’s what ‘drop, cover and hold on’ is… Understand that you are going to move around with the shaking and just sit still until the ground stops.”

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Many individuals living in southern California may believe that standing under a doorway is the safest place to stay during an earthquake, but according to Acosta, that is not always the case.

“A lot of people think a doorway is the safest place, but sometimes the doors, especially if they are heavy doors, could be swinging, so we have to be careful of that,” he said.

Acosta added that attempting to run outside during an earthquake is not a good idea, and also gave advice for those who find themselves already outside once the shaking starts.

“If you are outdoors, you also want to make sure that you stay away from powerlines and buildings and trees. The recommendation is to actually drop to the ground so that you do not trip and fall over (anything),” said Acosta. “Often times with our modern buildings, you are probably safest indoors — especially if you are underneath a sturdy desk. Never run outside of a building while it’s shaking.”

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While learning how to react when an earthquake strikes is important, it is also essential to learn how to prepare for the possibilities of what could happen afterwards by ensuring your home is earthquake proof.

“We want to make sure that you look for hazards in your home, make sure you secure things in your home,” Acosta explained. “Also create a family disaster preparedness plan. Make sure you have things you are going to need, create or update your emergency supply kit (and) make sure you have water and food for everybody for three to five days.”

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