FREE RED CROSS EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS PRESENTATION AND GREAT SHAKEOUT EARTHQUAKE DRILL HELP COMMUNITY PREPARE FOR CASCADIA

The Red Cross will
hold its Prepare Out Loud earthquake preparedness presentation during the Great
ShakeOut, an international earthquake drill, on October 20 in Portland. The
Oregon Office of Emergency Management director will deliver preparedness
remarks; Uber will provide free rides to and from the presentation.



PORTLAND, Ore.,
October 12, 2016 — The American Red Cross and our partners are working to
prepare the community for a 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake by holding
Prepare Out Loud, an earthquake preparedness presentation, in conjunction with
the international earthquake drill, the Great ShakeOut, on October 20 in
Portland. Uber Portland will provide free rides to and from the presentation
for people located within the city of Portland. Riders may use the code
“prepare16” to ride for free. 


“Prepare Out Loud is about building a culture of preparedness in
Oregon,” said Amy Shlossman, CEO of the Red Cross Cascades Region.
“By offering free preparedness education, bringing preparedness resources
together in one place and practicing what to do during an earthquake, the Red
Cross and our partners are taking action to get our community ready for
Cascadia and disasters of all kinds.”

The Red Cross Prepare Out Loud presentation addresses the seismic significance
of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, what to expect following an earthquake of this
magnitude and the simple steps to take now to prepare. The Great ShakeOut is an
annual opportunity to practice safe behavior during earthquakes: “drop,
cover and hold.” Prepare Out Loud attendees will participate in the Great
ShakeOut drill during the presentation on 10/20 at 10:20 a.m.

“By raising awareness in our community and taking simple steps to prepare
our homes and families, we can be ready for a disaster like a Cascadia
earthquake,” said Andrew Phelps, director of the Oregon Office of Emergency
Management. “We applaud the American Red Cross and their ‘Prepare Out
Loud’ presentation for helping people throughout the region know how to prepare
for disasters.”

One of the primary goals of the Prepare Out Loud presentation is to make
preparedness resources and information, including transportation to the event,
accessible to the community.

“Uber is proud to partner with Red Cross Cascades Region and support the
‘Prepare Out Loud” forum by making transportation to and from the event
free and easily accessible on the Uber app,” said Bryce Bennett, Uber’s
Oregon General Manager. “We will continue to work with Red Cross to
promote the importance of preparedness in our community.”


WHAT: American Red Cross Prepare Out Loud and the Great ShakeOut

Presented by the Bill Naito Company; in partnership with Parr Lumber and
Leatherman


WHEN: Thursday, October 20, 2016, 9:30 a.m. — 11 a.m. 

  • 9:15 a.m. – Media interview opportunity
  • 10:20 a.m. – Great ShakeOut
    earthquake drill 




WHERE: Montgomery Park – 2701 NW Vaughn St., Portland, OR 97210


WEBSITE: redcross.org/PrepareOutLoudPortland (Please RSVP and free to attend)

Prepare Out Loud presenter, Steve Eberlein, was witness to the destruction of
the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in Sri Lanka. The tsunami was caused by an
underwater subduction zone earthquake and resulted in the deaths of nearly
300,000 people in 14 countries. His first-hand account of the incident lends
perspective on the importance of preparedness. Following the Prepare Out Loud
presentation, attendees will understand the steps they can take now to prepare
for an earthquake and the central role their actions and voices play in
building our community’s resilience.


The Prepare Out Loud presentation covers:

  • – The science and history of the Cascadia Subduction Zone 
  • – Human behavior during disasters 
  • – What to expect during and after a Cascadia earthquake 
  • – How to prepare to quickly locate your loved ones following a disaster 
  • – How much food, water, and supplies you will need to take care of yourself and
    others 

What others are saying about Prepare Out Loud

99% of attendees have rated the presentation as “excellent” or
“very good“; 93% have found the presentation material to be
“very accessible“; and the majority of Prepare Out Loud attendees
described themselves as “motivated, inspired and hopeful” after the
presentation.


Visit www.redcross.org/PrepareOutLoud
for more earthquake preparedness resources, including:

  • – A disaster preparedness kit-building checklist 
  • – Instructions on how to make a family emergency plan 
  • – Preparedness tips for seniors 
  • – Preparedness tips for pets 
  • – Information about water sources and storage 
  • – Information on how to prepare out loud