As the most seismically active region in the U.S., Alaska has between 10,000 and 12,000 earthquakes a year, the majority of which go unfelt. But when a big one does hit a populated area, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management wants you to be prepared.
“What we’re trying to teach people is to drop, cover and hold on when they feel that strong earthquake,” division spokesman Jeremy Zidek said.
But what does a strong earthquake feel like? Find out inside Alaska’s Earthquake Simulator, which is in Juneau through Thursday, located between the Alaska State Museum and KTOO.
Sitting in one of four padded chairs and holding onto a handle, you can experience a 8.0 magnitude earthquake for 30 seconds. Sound effects surround you and stuffed animals are thrown around. There are no seatbelts.
“It looks like fun, but it’s quite a jarring experience. It shakes people up pretty good,” Zidek said outside the simulator Wednesday morning. “That’s what we want to do — create this experience that will give people a feeling of what those strong earthquakes are really like so we can educate them.”
‘Drop, cover and hold’ is the nation’s recommended earthquake safety action.
“Drop to the ground before the shaking throws you to the ground, find some type of cover to protect you from falling objects, like a desk, a table, under a chair, and then hold on to that cover until the shaking stops. If you can’t find one of those places, get away from all those falling objects. Get into the corner, get down on the ground, cover your head and try to protect yourself,” Zidek explained.
During U.S. earthquakes, the most common way for people to be hurt is by falling objects. Zidek said do not run outside.
“The earthquake is going to be taking place out there. There are all kinds of falling objects that can hurt you out there. You’re exposing yourself to falling objects as you’re running out of the building and you can be thrown down on the ground, thrown down on the stairs. It’s much safer to find a safe place in the room you’re in,” he said.
Zidek pointed out that the simulator is a mechanical earthquake; the shaking is restricted to back and forth, and up and down. “A real earthquake is going to be much more dynamic and roll in 360 degrees,” he said.
For Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch and wife Marian Koelsch, the simulation was real enough.
“It was scary,” the mayor said. “It’s a feeling of helplessness, because if you didn’t have something to hold on to …”
“You’d be thrown,” Marian said.
Juneau is part of the simulator’s Southeast Alaska debut. Usually housed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, the simulator has other stops in Skagway, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan and Haines. It also has Yukon visits in Burwash Landing, Whitehorse, Haines Junction and Beaver Creek.
Alaska’s Earthquake Simulator, located between the Alaska State Museum and KTOO, is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thursday. In the KTOO parking lot, Capital City Fire/Rescue is hosting a Fire Safety House and the Salvation Army and Red Cross will be serving free hot dogs and drinks out of Juneau’s Disaster Mobile Kitchen. Disaster preparedness and safety booths are set up inside the KTOO building.
• Contact reporter Lisa Phu at 523-2246 or lisa.phu@juneauempire.com.
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