Menlo Park Students Drop, Cover, and Hold On

On the 23rd anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake that rattled the San Francisco region, local students held on for dear life during an event known as The Great California Shakeout.

The Shakeout, held at 10:18 a.m. on the 18th day of the tenth month, is an earthquake drill for everyone to practice how to "drop, cover and hold on" when a temblor strikes.  More than nine million state residents, and even some outside of California, are expected to participate, including those at working at offices, traveling on public transit or attending school or staying at home.  Here in Menlo Park, Nativity School and the Sequoia Union High School District, which includes Menlo-Atherton High School, registered to participate in the Shakeout. 

Since the 1989 quake in which 63 died and nearly 4,000 were injured, city officials have geared up for the next large-scale temblor looming ahead with various agencies, and even have established private partnerships including with Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

"We are so fortunate to be in the Bay Area where collaboration is not a foreign concept," Harold Brook, CEO of Red Cross Bay Area.  BART is also observing the day to remind riders that a quake could strike while riding the system.

Did you take any photos during the drill? Upload them to this article! 

Bay City News contributed to this report.