County Rolls Out Seismic Simulator Earthquake Exhibit

SAN BERNARDINO>> The latest and greatest in earthquake education was unveiled Wednesday, Sept. 28 outside the County Government Center. Officials from the San Bernardino County Fire Department Office of Emergency Services introduced a new mobile earthquake educational exhibit called the Seismic Simulator. The Seismic Simulator is a mobile earthquake simulator that simulates the lateral movement and violent physical shaking experience of a strong, major earthquake. Up to four passengers can be seated at one time within the exhibit. Passengers are shown a brief educational video on the importance of practicing “Drop, Cover and Hold On!” before experiencing the simulated force of an earthquake within a mock living room setting. “It’s not a question of ‘if,’ but ‘when’ the next damaging earthquake will occur in San Bernardino County,” said Michael Antonucci, Emergency Services Manager at the Office of Emergency Services. “The Seismic Simulator shows residents just how crucial it is to be prepared before another earthquake strikes in our region.” Representatives from the Office of Emergency Services highlighted how the Seismic Simulator was created through a $148,500 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The earthquake exhibit will be made available to partner agencies and other jurisdictions. “Promoting disaster preparedness is what the Seismic Simulator is all about. The more residents we have prepared, the better chance our communities have to recover after an earthquake,” said Michael A. Ramirez, Emergency Services Officer with the Office of Emergency Services. Officials also encouraged residents to download the county’s new disaster preparedness app called Ready SB County, now available in the Google Play and Apple Store. The new app, Ready SB County, provides residents with multiple resources and step-by-step instructions that will assist them in preparing for a disaster. Residents are also asked to register for the worldwide Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills scheduled for 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 20, 2016 by visiting http://sbcfire.org/ShakeOut.