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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2025 | 7 The Great California Shake-Out Drill … Get Ready! By Janis Rice, EPAP PIO On Thurs., Oct. 16, at 10:16 am, Sun Lakes will participate in the Great California ShakeOut Drill. Why do we do these drills? To prepare, of course. But is what we do in Sun Lakes enough to truly prepare you for what might actually happen? This year's drill scenario depicts a very grim but realistic situation of what could occur during a large earthquake. Are you prepared? Drill Scenario: At 10:16 am, a VERY STRONG EARTHQUAKE HAS STRUCK IN THE BANNING PASS! The shaking has stopped. You check yourself and your family members. You inspect around your house. The power is out. There is no internet, landline, or television. Your cell phone isn't working. The gas line running through Sun Lakes has ruptured; gas has leaked and exploded into a fire, causing extensive damage throughout Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, along with the Main Clubhouse. There is minor to severe damage across Sun Lakes. Many homes are on fire. Structural damage has left broken glass and debris scattered everywhere. Chimneys have fallen. Water lines throughout Sun Lakes are broken; water is f looding homes, yards, and streets. Uprooted trees are falling onto homes, sidewalks, and streets. There is a fire on the Championship Course from gas line explosions, especially near holes 16 and 18. The fences facing Sun Lakes Blvd. have collapsed, leaving large amounts of debris in the neighboring residents' backyards. The Securitas Guard building at Gate 1 has collapsed. Several officers have sustained serious injuries. All other gates are damaged and without power, but the gate arms are up (they will automatically lift once the power is out). The damage to the Main Clubhouse is significant. EPAP attempts to connect the generator in or near the Bus Room for residents with medical devices and those in need of power. The North Clubhouse has minor damage but lacks a generator. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has moderate damage but will serve as the main command post. One generator will be used to charge batteries needed to operate radio equipment. The freeway bridges have collapsed. Communication with Riverside County EMD is unavailable. Human toll: Many residents have been injured; some minor, others life-threatening. There are fractured bones, deep cuts, head injuries, and burns. Injured golfers include some with severe burns. For this drill, our focus is on Districts 1 – 5. All other districts (Districts 6 – 23) will have just a few injured residents and only one critical case. We will not conduct evacuations — only shelter- in-place. Also, remember to place your yellow card in your front window or on your front door. This indicates that you and your family are safe. Sun Lakes' Animal Rescue will also participate by arranging to find at least one dog. Would you be prepared if this happened today? Do you know what to do? BEING PREPARED WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE.

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