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| THE COLONY NEWS | MARCH 2023 | 17 OUTREACH TO HISTORY By Lennie Martin Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) At 4:57 am on June 28, 1992, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck much of Southern California. The epicenter was near the town of Landers in San Bernardino County, 94 miles northeast of Murrieta. About three hours after the main shock, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Big Bear. Shaking lasted two to three minutes, followed by a series of smaller aftershocks over the next few days. Colony resident Mary Atkinson said, "Like most of us, we were not prepared for an earthquake and then to have two… By 8 am I was a basket case along with our cat, Mable! I thought they were dumb when I saw golfers on the course within an hour after the double header earthquake. Now I've changed my mind, it's a darn good place to be." "We were shaken awake two days after moving into The Colony," said Lou Ann Campbell. "Our china was still in boxes; that kept it from falling off shelves and breaking." Her husband, Bill, added, "That was quite a welcome to our new home!" Damage near the epicenter was severe: roads buckled, buildings and chimneys collapsed, there were large surface fissures, 400 injuries and three deaths. Electricity was cut off to thousands but restored in two to three hours. Damage and loss of life were minimized due to earthquake locations in the sparsely populated Mojave Desert. Less damage occurred farther west. What would you do if an earthquake or other disaster struck The Colony now? The Emergency Preparedness Committee has the task of addressing this question. In early 1991, preparations began with CPR classes and a Colony Protective Services presentation where local fire and sheriff representatives explained what they could do. An Earthquake Preparedness Handbook was distributed to 400 residents and the Safety and Preparedness Committee was created. After the 1992 earthquake, the Handbook was revised and reprinted. In January 1993, the HOA Board approved a merger of this committee with Neighborhood Watch, a crime prevention program sponsored by Murrieta Police Department. Functions were expanded to include community assistance for disasters. Street Coordinators were appointed, who then recruited Block Captains, one for every 10 houses, responsible for assisting these homeowners in case of security problems/disasters. By 1995, the committee distributed a list of appropriate responses to situations and an area map of The Colony. A brochure "Prepare for an Earthquake" soon followed with a detailed list of what to do before and after a disaster. The Emergency Preparedness Committee's basic structure and charter emerged out of this. By 2003, there were 11 areas for the 60 existing streets, and each had an Area Coordinator who connected with Block Captains. Currently, many positions remain unfilled: 17 Area Coordinators and 138 Block Captains are needed. The Colony's Emergency Preparedness Plan was authorized in 2006 by the HOA Board; EPC's present committee structure was in place by 2011. EPC meets monthly and schedules trainings and drills regularly. The Colony Emergency Preparedness Manual (2021) guides responses when disaster strikes, with details of team members' roles and interface with residents and the City of Murrieta. Emergency/disaster preparedness is YOUR responsibility! We could be on our own for 24-72 hours and 911 won't be able to help. You should be prepared at home and with "go-bags," know our basic response plan, and be in contact with your Block Captain. The EPC is seeking team members. Call Jackie Price, EPC Chair 951-304-9055, cell 415-203-6445, or email jkp623@verizon.net. Colony streets grouped into areas in 1995. 2018 Plaque on EPC Emergency Response Storage Shed at Clubhouse

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