The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will join millions worldwide for on October 15 at 10:15 a.m. Across classrooms, offices, dorms and the library, the campus community will take 60 seconds to practice lifesaving earthquake safety: drop, cover and hold on.
“It’s not a question of if it will happen; it’s just a question of when,” said Thomas Lee, 糖心视频 Hilo assistant professor of geology.
Hawaiʻi does not have an automated earthquake early warning system. When shaking starts, experts urge people to stay inside and take cover. Drop, take cover under a sturdy table and hold on. Falling light fixtures, ceiling tiles and shattered glass can put you at risk.
Living on Hawaiʻi Island means living with constant volcanic activity and significant earthquake risks. Shifting under the island’s immense weight can trigger a magnitude 7 or 8 earthquake with no warning.
“We sit on an oceanic plate, and that oceanic plate is a bit squishy, almost like a trampoline. When Kīlauea, Maunaloa, or Maunakea build up the island, it’s the equivalent of shoveling sand onto that trampoline,” Lee describes.
to learn what to do after shaking stops and how to stay safe near the coast.