Another earthquake drill will take place in Mexico City and seven mostly central states on Wednesday, May 6, as part of the government’s protocol to strengthen public preparedness for emergencies.
Mexico’s earthquake alarm will sound on 14,191 loudspeakers in Mexico City, as well as in the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla, Michoacán, Morelos, Colima and Mexico state, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
(Gobierno de la Ciudad de México)
An alert will also be sent to all smartphones stating, “THIS IS A DRILL – This is a message to test the functionality of the National Alert System of the Government of Mexico – THIS IS A DRILL.” As well as on the radio and television.
“Our city knows very well what prevention means,” said Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada. “We learned it in 1985 and again in 2017. Since then, we know that prevention means saving lives.“
The drill will simulate an 8.2 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, 55 km northwest of Acapulco, Guerrero.
In non-drill situations, the seismic alert normally activates for magnitude 5 earthquakes whose epicenter is less than 200 km away, for magnitude 5.5 earthquakes that are less than 350 km away, and for all magnitude 6 or stronger earthquakes.
In Mexico City, the drill will be used to prepare the evacuation of approximately 5,000 public officials. It also aims to enhance the response capacity of emergency services, activate Emergency Committees, optimize coordination with the Civil Protection Councils of the 16 boroughs and promote a culture of prevention among residents and visitors of the capital.
The government has released some recommendations for people during the drill, including to avoid running, shouting or pushing as you evacuate, retreat to a safe area for the duration of the drill and follow the instructions of the brigade members if you are at school or work.
With news of a scheduled earthquake drill on Wednesday, many were confused to hear the earthquake alarm sound for real across Mexico City on Monday morning, after a 5.6 magnitude quake was registered in Oaxaca.
Others wondered why we need more than one drill a year. “All drills are important in this city,” Mayor Brugada said. “The more opportunities we have to rehearse the protocols, the better prepared we will be for any event.”
With reports from Expansión Política, Diario Evolución and Excelsior
