Marin General Hospital Invites Public to "The Great Shakeout"

Marin General Hospital Invites Public to "The Great Shakeout"

Northern California’s only “Quake Cottage” earthquake simulator featured at event

GREENBRAE, CA — Marin General Hospital, the county’s only designated trauma center, and a vital community resource in the aftermath of a major earthquake, will once again participate in “The Great Shakeout,” a statewide earthquake preparedness drill on October 17, 2013. 

For its part in the drill, the hospital will be holding an Earthquake Safety Fair from 11 am to 3 pm on the hospital’s campus. Free and open to the public, the fair will feature tools and information on emergency preparedness, including emergency disaster supply checklists, “Get Ready Marin” disaster preparedness information as well as emergency information from the Red Cross. Fairgoers will also have a chance to purchase home emergency kits at a discounted price and enter a drawing to win an emergency kit for the whole family.

The featured attraction will be Northern California’s only “Quake Cottage,” a mobile earthquake simulator that provides a demonstration of how a real 8.0 seismic event would feel. The Quake Cottage is open to the public but requires a waiver to enter.

Marin General Hospital recently announced plans to rebuild and modernize its facility to meet state seismic safety standards, allowing it to remain operational after an earthquake. If Measure F passes in the upcoming November election, Marin General Hospital will be rebuilt to new seismic standards.

“Making the hospital seismically safe and ensuring that life-saving, up-to-date medical technology is available to citizens — especially in the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake — is a critical part of our mission,” says Lee Domanico, hospital CEO. “In the event of a major earthquake, which experts believe is more than a 60% probability in the next 25-30 years; our county could be cut off from surrounding areas. Treating the victims of the disaster, as well as handling day-to-day medical emergencies while roads are restored is of prime importance.”

“By participating in educational events such as “The Great Shakeout,” the hospital has the opportunity to educate our community about the importance of earthquake preparedness at the best time possible -- before it happens.”

What: “The Great Shakeout & Earthquake Safety Fair.” Featuring Northern California’s only mobile earthquake simulator  

Where: Marin General Hospital, 250 Bon Air Road, parking lot below East Lobby

When: Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, 11 am to 3 pm

Contacts: 

    • Jamie Maites, Director of Communications, 1-415-925-7424 or 1-240-506-8556 (mobile) maitesj@maringeneral.org
    • Judy Twitchell, 1-650-280-6001, judy1262@sbcglobal.net