PORT ANGELES — If you happen to see county employees hiding beneath their desks this morning or hear unexpected chatter on your emergency alert radio, rest easy.
This is only a test.
At 9:45 a.m., the Clallam County Courthouse, employees and visitors will participate in a state-wide “Drop-Cover-Hold” drill intended to help people prepare for earthquakes.
Then, between 10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m., the National Weather Service, will conduct a test of the Tsunami Warning System all along the west coast.
Those with NOAA Weather Radios can listen to the test, which will originate in Palmer, Alaska, and is intended to spread through coastal Washington, Oregon and California.
The drills and system tests are meant to highlight that September is National Preparedness Month and National Weather Radio Month.
Practice for a quake
The Drop-Cover-Hold drill gives people a chance to practice quickly moving under a sturdy desk or table.
The “earthquake” in this case will be the piercing sound of a air horn, said Bob Martin, Clallam County utilities and emergency manager.
Martin is suggesting those participating in the drill stay in position for five to 10 seconds before filing outside to be counted.
People are often hurt in earthquakes by falling debris as they exit buildings, Martin said.
“You don’t want to exit a building when it’s still shaking,” he said.
The estimated 250 employees and visitors to the courthouse will be expected to evacuate.
“Sometimes (the public) participates in the drill, sometimes,” Martin said.
“But they will all evacuate the courthouse.”