AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND - On November 13, 2008, over 5 million people participated in the Great Southern California ShakeOut including citizens of Avalon and Catalina Island!  In this simulated magnitude 7.8 earthquake scenario massive devastation to the City's infrastructure occurs along with long term interruption of vital services like water, fuel and electrical power.  Roads are blocked by damaged structures and land slides and all communication between us and the mainland is lost.  Scientist's like Lucy Jones of the US Geological Survey tell us that it's not a matter of if, but when an earthquake this size will occur and our drill becomes a reality!

It was 10:00 A.M. when the earth began to move and didn't stop shaking for over two minutes leaving every shelf and cupboard empty of its contents and every unsecured heavy piece of furniture tossed about with you possibly under it.  There was broken window glass and exposed nails from collapsed walls all over town as barefooted citizens clamored for a good pair of shoes!

Those who executed the #1 earthquake survival technique of Duck, Cover & Hold greatly increased their chances of surviving without injury.  Tucked away under a heavy table or piece of furniture and holding on to it tightly they were protected from the falling debris and collapsing walls around them.  With over 50,000 injuries expected in Southern California and hospitals and Emergency Medical systems greatly diminished in capacity the competition for medical care will be phenomenal.  A major earthquake is not the time to be getting injured if you can help it. 

After the shaking stopped all affected citizens including Avalon Public Safety personnel began to assess their individual and collective situation and respond to the disaster.  Dispatch wisely recognized and announced that an earthquake lasting over a minute and causing extensive damage could also trigger a tsunami which would reach Avalon from the Palos Verdes peninsula within 10 minutes of the shaking. 

Under the direction of Avalon Fire Chief Steve Hoefs all the city's public safety personnel began to respond according to their respective discipline.  Each had their unique challenges including the Harbor Dept., Fire Dept., Public Works, Sheriff's & CERT, Baywatch Lifeguards and LACo Fire Station 55 through Automatic and Mutual Aid agreements.

Avalon Fire and the Baywatch Lifeguards responded to medical calls, collapsed structures and search and rescue calls attempting to move the injured to safety but always on the lookout for incoming tsunami waves and plumes of smoke from fires in their early stages.  One of the biggest post quake threats is conflagration caused by multiple fires due to ruptured propane lines or electrical lines down and at the time that possible broken water lines puts the hydrants out-of-service.
The Harbor Department was tasked with the scenario of a 10 foot wave slamming into the harbor and turning it into a large washing machine.  This tested their response times to safety as well as their human and boat evacuation procedures.  Their EMT-1 and First Aid skills came into play as the overtaxed Lifeguards could not get to all the calls. 

Public Works worked under the threat of aftershocks and tsunamis as they cleared debris from the landslide that blocked Pebbly Beach Road. 

CERT members assisted the LASD with security measures, evacuations and the movement of victims from danger zones to safe refuge areas.

County Fire assisted with mainland contacts (unsuccessful) helicopter coordination and search of the collapsed old city hall and fire station.

The HAM Radio community drilled by simulating the complete collapse of communications networks and establishing an island wide network of HAM radios relaying from one point to another across the island.  The Conservancy Rangers reported the Thompson Dam had collapsed and two people were missing.  They also tested their radio procedures for trans-Catalina communications via unit to unit transmissions.

But, the highlight of the exercise was the 15 - 20 victims from Avalon High School who were made up with real looking injuries and scripted with real medical and trauma information.  Their ability to "stay in character" until they were triaged, treated and transported gave many of the first responders and Catalina Island Medical Center personnel more than a taste of the grim reality and challenges a real event would pose.  The treatment of victims will be the #1 challenge after a major disaster of any kind. 

Catalina Island Medical Center had a comprehensive response to the drill, with both on duty and off duty personnel responding to take part.  "I was proud of how the hospital team functioned," said Bryan Ballard, the medical center's CEO. "It was also gratifying in terms of all the agencies working together."

Dozens of "patients" were transported to the hospital with "injuries" ranging from bumps and bruises to impalement. With all communications and support from the mainland unavailable, as it most likely would be for a regional disaster, those patients were all treated at CIMC.   Ballard said he was also impressed with the drill's community-wide involvement. "We as a community came together and really set aside our routines and worked wholeheartedly on the drill," he said.

Each agency is now in the process of compiling its "lessons learned" and putting together "After Action Reports" and "Improvement Plans" AAR/IP's.  One purpose of these drills is review and reinforce what we are doing right and to identify areas where we can improve. 
In the aftermath of this exercise the civilian community will be invited to take another step forward in preparedness as well. 

In an effort to help you safely secure your home from falling items and large furniture which could injure you during an earthquake the KCET DVD "Bracing for a Quake" will be air for 3 - 4 nights in the near future courtesy of the Catalina Cable Company.  Scheduled showings will be announced soon.

Also, the Avalon Sheriffs and Avalon CERT will soon be hosting a "Build your Bucket" party so that anyone who doesn't already have an emergency preparedness kit can build their own from available supplies for only $55.00

Keep a close eye for the DVD showing and the opportunity to build your own emergency preparedness bucket.  And always remember to Duck, Cover and Hold during earthquakes, the life you save may be your own.

- Steve F. Escoto
Story compiled from report from each participating agency