The 2011 Great California ShakeOut was a success in San Bernardino County as more residents than ever participated and pledged to improve their disaster preparedness.

This year, more than 560,000 residents participated along with first responders, government offices and businesses. Chief Mark Hartwig and Board of Supervisors Fifth District Representative Chris Mardis kicked off the County's largest ShakeOut event at the SBCo Museum in Redlands by addressing hundreds of school children and adults. They emphasized the importance of personal and family disaster preparedness. They also both participated in the Drop, Cover and Hold On Drill side by side with the school children.

Fire Stations throughout the County removed equipment from the apparatus bay. Disaster policy was reviewed with all employees and procedures within the policy were executed. Procedures include checking for immediate needs of employees, and checking all station emergency supplies.

About 70 employees from Co Fire and Special Districts on the 2nd floor of the 5th St building joined County employees from around the region as they executed the Drop Cover and Hold On drill at 10:20 a.m. The drill audio and earthquake sound effects were played over the PA system. All employees received a one hour safety training from Risk Manager Dave Neumann in the week prior to the drill and were briefed on emergency operations procedures.

Employees also executed a separate evacuation drill following the ShakeOut drill (after the shaking stopped).

All employees met at their designated evacuation location in the parking lot, supervisors reported to the Incident Command, and upon confirmation of safe re-entry, everyone re-occupied the building.

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