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| Quake drill shakes California into shape | Quake drill shakes California into shape |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| By Peter Bowes BBC News, Los Angeles Experts believe another huge earthquake in California is inevitable | By Peter Bowes BBC News, Los Angeles Experts believe another huge earthquake in California is inevitable |
| About five million people in California have taken part in the biggest earthquake drill in US history. | About five million people in California have taken part in the biggest earthquake drill in US history. |
| Schools, hospitals and staff working in public buildings all responded to the simulated tremor at exactly the same time. | Schools, hospitals and staff working in public buildings all responded to the simulated tremor at exactly the same time. |
| Children donned fake blood to act as victims, while fire-fighters with chainsaws and rescue gear rushed to the scene of a burning building with artificial smoke bellowing from its windows. | Children donned fake blood to act as victims, while fire-fighters with chainsaws and rescue gear rushed to the scene of a burning building with artificial smoke bellowing from its windows. |
| The drill was designed to alert people in the state to the threat of a potentially catastrophic earthquake. Scientists believe a quake with a magnitude of at least 7.0 will happen within the next 30 years. | The drill was designed to alert people in the state to the threat of a potentially catastrophic earthquake. Scientists believe a quake with a magnitude of at least 7.0 will happen within the next 30 years. |
| The locals, the state and the federal government came together very quickly, unlike what we have seen at [Hurricane] Katrina Arnold Schwarzenegger,Governor of California In pictures: California quake drill | The locals, the state and the federal government came together very quickly, unlike what we have seen at [Hurricane] Katrina Arnold Schwarzenegger,Governor of California In pictures: California quake drill |
| "I think it is extraordinarily important for California," says Dr Lucy Jones, a seismologist with the US Geological Survey (USGS). | "I think it is extraordinarily important for California," says Dr Lucy Jones, a seismologist with the US Geological Survey (USGS). |
| "It's been 15 years since we really had a damaging earthquake in LA and it's very easy for people to forget over that sort of time what things were like," she adds. | "It's been 15 years since we really had a damaging earthquake in LA and it's very easy for people to forget over that sort of time what things were like," she adds. |
| "This is a chance to really look at what it means to have this many people involved in the disaster and the stretch of resources that it's going to entail." | "This is a chance to really look at what it means to have this many people involved in the disaster and the stretch of resources that it's going to entail." |
| 'Drop, Cover and Hold On' | 'Drop, Cover and Hold On' |
| At exactly 1000 (1800 GMT), local radio stations and public address systems in schools and hospitals alerted people to a simulated 7.8-magnitude quake. | At exactly 1000 (1800 GMT), local radio stations and public address systems in schools and hospitals alerted people to a simulated 7.8-magnitude quake. |
| Reaction to the quake drill in California | |
| Pupils responded immediately by diving under their desks for cover. | Pupils responded immediately by diving under their desks for cover. |
| They stayed in place for two minutes, which is the estimated duration of a quake of this magnitude. During this time buildings would shake violently. | They stayed in place for two minutes, which is the estimated duration of a quake of this magnitude. During this time buildings would shake violently. |
| The "Drop, Cover and Hold On" drill is a well-rehearsed routine at California schools. | The "Drop, Cover and Hold On" drill is a well-rehearsed routine at California schools. |
| Kelli Clarke, a teacher at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School in Burbank, said her class of nine-year olds responded well. | Kelli Clarke, a teacher at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School in Burbank, said her class of nine-year olds responded well. |
| "They did exactly what they'd been trained to do and what they'd been practising doing and they did a good job." | "They did exactly what they'd been trained to do and what they'd been practising doing and they did a good job." |
| If a quake of this magnitude were to happen, the authorities say 1,500 buildings would be destroyed, there would be 1,800 deaths and $200bn (£135bn) in damage. | If a quake of this magnitude were to happen, the authorities say 1,500 buildings would be destroyed, there would be 1,800 deaths and $200bn (£135bn) in damage. |
| In addition, major roads would collapse, water and gas pipes would burst and power lines would go down. | In addition, major roads would collapse, water and gas pipes would burst and power lines would go down. |
| The imagined earthquake would, officials say, cause 2,000 deaths | The imagined earthquake would, officials say, cause 2,000 deaths |
| "What life is going to be like in Southern California after this event is really going to depend on the choices we've made before this event," says Dr Jones. | "What life is going to be like in Southern California after this event is really going to depend on the choices we've made before this event," says Dr Jones. |
| "To retrofit or not, to store water, how quickly we can get the economy up and running will determine whether this is a disaster or a catastrophe." | "To retrofit or not, to store water, how quickly we can get the economy up and running will determine whether this is a disaster or a catastrophe." |
| The mock earthquake was in a section of the San Andreas that has not moved in more than three centuries. Scientists fear a build-up of pressure could unleash a huge quake in the near future. | The mock earthquake was in a section of the San Andreas that has not moved in more than three centuries. Scientists fear a build-up of pressure could unleash a huge quake in the near future. |
| California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, praised local and federal agencies for co-ordinating the drill. | California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, praised local and federal agencies for co-ordinating the drill. |
| "The locals, the state and the federal government came together very quickly, unlike what we have seen at [Hurricane] Katrina, when it was going the other way," he said. | "The locals, the state and the federal government came together very quickly, unlike what we have seen at [Hurricane] Katrina, when it was going the other way," he said. |
| Dr Jones adds: "We've getting people to see others taking action and that'll help encourage them to take action themselves." | Dr Jones adds: "We've getting people to see others taking action and that'll help encourage them to take action themselves." |
| "We need enough people in Southern California to have decided to do their part to keep the social system working after the event." | "We need enough people in Southern California to have decided to do their part to keep the social system working after the event." |