( Español) – Mexico is preparing for the 2024 National Drill on September 19, in the framework of the anniversary of the earthquakes recorded in 1985 and 2017, the two most destructive in the recent history of the country and which occurred on the same date.
The exercise seeks to promote a culture of civil protection in the population and contribute to strengthening the response capacities of the three levels of government in the event of a disaster or emergency, according to the National Coordination of Civil Protection.
Here’s what you need to know.
The hypothetical scenario will be a 7.5 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Acapulco, Guerrero, widely felt in central Mexico. It will be of severe intensity in Guerrero; strong and very strong in Michoacán, Morelos and Oaxaca and moderate in Mexico City, Chiapas, Puebla, the State of Mexico, Colima and Tlaxcala.
Other states where seismic activity is low will be able to participate by carrying out a simulation according to the risk in their geographic location, such as a volcanic eruption, floods, fires or hurricanes.
When and at what time will the drill be?
The exercise will take place on Thursday, September 19 at 11:00 a.m. Mexico time, 1 p.m. Miami time.
The Mexican Seismic Alert System (SASMEX) will be activated at that time and will have an “alert time” of between 60 and 70 seconds.
The seismic alert will be activated in Mexico City, Guerrero, Michoacan, State of Mexico, Puebla, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Morelos.
The 32 federal entities will participate in the 2024 National Drill.
Federal public administration agencies and entities, state civil protection systems, and municipalities and mayors in Mexico City will participate in the drill.
Civil Protection authorities called on the population to register their homes, places of work, study or recreational activities on the platform www.preparados.gob.mx/simulacronacional2024 in order to assess the safety conditions of these locations, as well as identify the safest meeting points.
In terms of prevention, the authorities list a series of actions to have a response plan that allows identifying the risks of a property.
Three earthquakes shook Mexico on September 19: an “unpleasant coincidence” that deserves to be studied
- Make a civil protection plan
- Organize and participate in evacuation drills
- Identify safe zones in homes, schools and workplaces
- Have a telephone directory, first aid kit and important documents on hand
- Check electricity and gas installations
- Prepare an emergency backpack
During an emergency event it is recommended:
- Stay calm and find a safe zone
- Stay away from falling objects and windows
- If you are in a car, it is recommended to park and move away from tall buildings, tall trees or poles.
- In coastal areas, stay away from the beach, rivers, streams, swampy areas or lagoons and seek refuge in high areas.
It is also important to identify the Internal Civil Protection Unit of your building, school or workplace in order to organize the roles that each member will play in the event of an incident.
September 19 left its mark on Mexicans due to two devastating earthquakes that coincided on the same date.
The most destructive occurred in 1985, when an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale caused devastation in central, southern and western Mexico, particularly in Mexico City. Authorities reported it describe as “the most significant and damaging in the country’s contemporary history.”
Official figures indicate that there were 6,000 dead, more than 30,000 injured and 150,000 homeless. according to the Government of Mexico.
Thirty-two years after that tragedy, another 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook the Mexican capital, as well as Morelos, Puebla, the State of Mexico, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Tlaxcala. Authorities counted 369 deaths, while some 250,000 people were affected, more than 180,000 homes were damaged by the two earthquakes and of those, 50,610 were totally damaged.
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