New campaign urges earthquake preparedness in quake-prone Southern California

“We’re urging Californians to ask themselves an important question this April: ‘If an earthquake strikes today, would I be prepared?” said Kate Scharer, USGS research geologist. “We’ve teamed up with Clear Channel Outdoor to not only focus on earthquake preparedness; but also how science informs preparedness and resilience for residents across the Southland. By placing these messages on digital billboards region-wide we can increase the number of Californians who will be able to answer ‘yes’ when asked if they’re prepared for a quake.”

Southern California has the highest earthquake risk of any region in the United States. Not only is the area bisected by the San Andreas Fault, which is capable of producing very large quakes, but it is also crisscrossed by many other faults capable of producing large and damaging tremors.

“We live in a high-risk region, yet we often forget that the next big earthquake could be right around the corner. During this year’s Earthquake Preparedness Month, we are urging residents to take action and prepare by planning ahead and arming themselves with knowledge,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitchell Englander, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, who represents Northridge, the epicenter of the 1994 earthquake. “I want to thank the USGS and Clear Channel Outdoor for bringing this important message to Angelenos and encouraging our communities to take proactive steps to protect themselves.”

The USGS and CCOA-led campaign will run throughout the Southland and will provide residents with the information needed to protect themselves during a quake, while also encouraging Southern Californians to engage in preparedness proactively to better safeguard themselves and their loved ones for the possibility of tremors in quake-prone Southern California.

“Clear Channel Outdoor Americas is proud to again join the USGS in urging the Southland community to prepare for tremors by prioritizing early preparedness and education,” said Layne Lawson, director of public affairs for Clear Channel Outdoor Americas. “Placing these messages on our digital billboards throughout Southern California will help guarantee more residents see the messages and are prepared in an emergency earthquake situation.”

CCOA frequently partners with public agencies and non-profits on efforts like this to ensure its resources are used to benefit the public. Digital signs have the unique ability to reach a wide audience while displaying messages in real-time, allowing them to act as valuable resources for non-profit organizations, public safety agencies, law enforcement and a variety of others who need to effectively relay messages to the public.