No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaNationwide earthquake drill in Costa Rica occurs Wednesday

Nationwide earthquake drill in Costa Rica occurs Wednesday

If you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes, it’s important to know what to do when one hits.

Costa Rica is one of those places.

According to the National Emergency Commission (CNE), Costa Rica averages 350 earthquakes each month, or about 12 each day. You’d be hard-pressed to notice the majority of them — you might not feel it at all, or mistake it for a truck rumbling down the street.

But every once in a while, an earthquake causes significant damage in Costa Rica. (Want a reminder? Here’s a list!)

The United States’ Department of Homeland Security recommends the following when an earthquake hits:

  • If you are in a vehicle, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
  • If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
  • If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings.
  • Do not get in a doorway.
  • Do not run outside.

Costa Rica’s CNE says to “first and foremost, remain calm.” Following the quake, if you are indoors, walk outside when able — taking stairs instead of elevators — to an area away from damaged buildings and electric power lines. Their recommendations:

  • Stay calm. When able, evacuate to previously identified safe areas.
  • If inside a building, follow the emergency exits. Otherwise, find a door frame or seek shelter under a very strong table or desk.
  • Stay away from windows, mirrors, and glass items that can break, and do not lean on walls. Stay away from stoves or other hot utensils.
  • Do not use an elevator or stairs while the earthquake is still occurring.
  • If driving, stop the vehicle away from bridges and utility poles.
  • In public and crowded places (cinema, theater, stadium, classroom), maintain order. If there is difficulty evacuating, remain in place, covering your head and neck with your arms and lowering your head to your knees.
  • Remain in a safe place and stay attentive to the official CNE report indicating that everything can return to normal.

CNE is hosting a nationwide earthquake simulacrum, or drill, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11 to help Costa Rica prepare for evacuations in the event of a large tremor. The organization expects thousands of people across the country to participate in the event.

To participate in the simulacro:

  • If you haven’t already, sign up by completing this form
  • Learn safe evacuation methods and plan an evacuation route using CNE documentation.
  • Evacuate! At 7 p.m. on August 11, evacuate (using your planned evacuation route) as if there had been a major earthquake.

Simulacro CR, a mobile phone application available for iOS and Android, offers information on how to prepare an emergency plan for a safe evacuation in the context of Covid-19. It also provides the tools needed to participate in the evacuation exercise.

This will be the third earthquake drill of this scale in Costa Rica, and the first such event at night.

“We carry out the third national drill through a night evacuation exercise, to strengthen the country’s capacities in emergency situations in the context of COVID 19,” the CNE says.

Trending Now

5 Top Costa Rican Restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Best List

Costa Rica's restaurants have landed spots on TripAdvisor's global list of top dining spots this year. Five local places made the cut in the...

Costa Rica Traffic Accidents Drive Up Insurance Premiums

Costa Rica's roads have turned into a deadly trap, with traffic accidents claiming more lives and causing more injuries than ever before. On Friday,...

Costa Rica Updates National ID Card with Enhanced Security Features

Costa Rica's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rolled out a redesigned physical identity card today. The update focuses on better protection against fraud while keeping...

New Poison Dart Frog Species Discovered in Peru’s Amazon

Peruvian researchers have identified a new poison dart frog in the Amazon rainforest, adding to the region's rich array of wildlife. The tiny creature,...

Costa Rican Congressman Faces Sexual Abuse Allegations from 2006

Fabricio Alvarado, a sitting congressman and presidential hopeful for the New Republic Party, now contends with a formal complaint accusing him of sexually abusing...

Costa Rica Faces Rising Extortion from Informal Lenders, Says UN

A new United Nations study sheds light on the rapid spread of informal lending schemes called "gota a gota" across Costa Rica, where high-interest...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica