SAN BERNARDINO – A 4.5 earthquake centered near downtown shook much of the Southland on Thursday night.
There were also a number of small aftershocks in the hour following the quake, including a 3.3 earthquake in San Bernardino at 8:47 p.m.
Public-safety agencies said there were few reports of immediate damage. ..
Having an earthquake occur at the beginning of the year is great timing. It reminds us to examine our standard protocols for response. If you are located in earthquake country, no matter what fire department you work for, it is imperative that personnel have a thorough knowledge of the measures taken after a quake.
A predesignated route for each engine company to drive and make a complete assessments for damages within a specified period of time is critical. A major quake will mean isolation for virtually every fire department near the epicenter. Compiling and completing a Damage Survey Report for your first due will be important in making sure all of your local emergencies are triaged appropriately by your Incident Commander.
If your fire department does not have a post quake evaluation system for each company, a shot-gun effect of resource allocation may be problematic since not everyone may be on the same page.
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