Be prepared. That’s the message behind Thursday’s international drill, the Great Shakeout.On Oct. 17, communities worldwide are reminded of the importance of practicing drop, cover and hold on. More than 10 million participated last year in California alone.Crescent City officials, especially, know how important practicing survival skills is, given two devastating tsunamis here in the last 50 years.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');City Manager Eric Wier said that Thursday’s Great Shakeout is a good reminder. “Make sure all employees are aware. Announce that the simulated earthquake has begun. Drop, duck and cover. It raises awareness to also look around the office. Is that bookshelf secured to the wall?” he said.“Crescent City is aware of tsunami threats, too. The warning siren might not go off. Your first warning might be an earthquake of significance. After 90 seconds, go to high ground. Know your zone; get there as soon as you can.”To help get this message out this year is Kymmie Scott, the new emergency services manager for the County of Del Norte. Scott said no big, regional drill is planned for this week. That will happen next year. Rather, this year is about awareness.“This year for the shakeout it’s going to be low-key,” Scott said. “We’ll concentrate on Community Emergency Response Team training, a social-media push, make sure people are ready.“Plus, we’re encouraging people to take pictures and put on our webpage of them under their desk, doing their part.“It’s important that we were always told as kids to stand in doorways during an earthquake. We don’t say that anymore. The best you can do is get underneath a heavy table. If you’re not able to, make sure you’re away from bookshelves and windows. Crouch and cover your neck.”Wier added that part of the drill is having the proper supplies on hand for the aftermath of a disaster. “Crescent City would not be the only community affected. We will be cut off from where the supplies are. Everyone has to do their part, have their go-bags ready,” he said.Wier added that the power outage last week in Humboldt County was an eye-opener. Pacific Gas and Electric cut power to large areas in California to minimize fire danger during high winds. “Help could not be there for a couple of days,” he said.Scott said a proper go-bag should be prepared as it is by a Boy or Girl Scout. Think of 10 essentials, including something to eat, drink, a source of light and warmth, a little foil bag like a sleeping bag, a fire starter and a first-aid kit.“Plus, don’t forget medications. Keep a copy of prescriptions for real emergencies. Have something for pets, small kids, comfort items like a stuffed animal or playing cards, light and compact. This can be traumatic, so include something from home in the bag,” Scott said.She said the extra concern about earthquakes in Crescent City is the threat of a tsunami that can follow. “If it’s a ‘near, short event,’ the event itself is the notification.“Once the earthquake stops, think of tsunami evacuation. We used to say 20 seconds, but people don’t usually count during an earthquake. If its small, it’s small. If it’s big, you’ll know. When in doubt, drill it out. It doesn’t hurt,” Scott said.She said the best place to learn more about what to do during and after earthquakes is online at www.preparedelnote.com. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });