Congresswoman Laura Richardson Stands in Support of The Great California Shakeout

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize another successful Great California ShakeOut that occurred on October 20, 2011.

On 10:20 am, over 8.6 million Californians took part in a Drop, Cover, and Hold On earthquake drill. This was an increase from the 7.9 million people who participated in last years' drill.

The Great California ShakeOut occurs on the third Thursday of October each year. Schools, businesses, tribes, government officials, faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations, and more participated in this year's Great California ShakeOut. The purpose of the Great California ShakeOut is to raise earthquake preparedness among all stakeholders in the State.

As the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I applaud my home State of California for taking earthquake preparedness seriously.

California is no stranger to having earthquakes. Earthquake preparedness in California has saved countless lives and money.

Having effective emergency plans in place for earthquakes and other disasters has proven to save lives. I will continue to fight to ensure that our communities in California and across the country have the resources available to handle emergency situations.

Mr. Speaker, again I congratulate Californians on another successful Great California ShakeOut. While the Great California ShakeOut occurs once a year, it serves as a reminder to us all that emergency planning needs to be a year-round effort.