Riders on BART trains at 10:17 a.m. Thursday will have an earthquake drill headed their way.
BART will participate in the 2024 International ShakeOut Day earthquake drill, testing the transit agency’s emergency response systems and helping raise public awareness of the importance of having a plan and being prepared.
Because, as Californians know, the next big one is always on the way.
The event coincides with the anniversary of the most recent major Bay Area seismic event — the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a magnitude 6.9 temblor that struck Oct. 17 at 5:04 p.m. in Santa Cruz County, killing 63 people and causing an estimated $6 billion in damage.
Once Thursday’s drill is triggered, trains will automatically slow down to 27 mph. Then all trains will come to a very brief stop. BART will then make a systemwide public announcement, encouraging riders to be prepared for earthquakes.
The agency will also test its internal communications systems to notify employees and its operations control center to observe earthquake alarms and train control systems to ensure they are working properly.
BART said it was an early adopter of the ShakeAlert system, which is connected to seismic stations located throughout Northern California.
When the alarm is triggered, the system sends a speed restriction command to trains. The system removes human response time and can even slow trains down before the shaking occurs, depending on how far away the quake is centered.
BART has added simulated damage inspections to its ShakeAlert drill. Shortly after ShakeAlert is triggered Thursday, about 60 engineers will divide into teams and fan out to all 50 stations to conduct structural assessments.
The engineers will inspect walkways, support structures, elevators, escalators — anything that could sustain damage in a powerful earthquake. The simulation is designed to identify areas for improvement and to exercise “muscle memory” for BART’s earthquake response.
They know the drill
BART has an earthquake emergency response plan and holds several drills a year to ensure staff is trained and ready to respond. In the event of an earthquake, riders should listen for instructions from BART personnel.
Employees are trained to evacuate the public from dangerous areas. Following an earthquake, BART trains are held in place (except those in the Transbay Tube and Caldecott Tunnel) until it is determined it is safe to move the train to the nearest station where riders will be offboarded.
The first guideline in a BART emergency is to follow instructions from BART personnel. The BART Operations Control Center is in constant communication with trains and station agents and is in the best position to manage emergencies and provide direction for the public.
BART said if someone is on a train during an earthquake, train operators will follow BART’s established emergency plan and provide them with important information. Sit down or grab a handhold to avoid injury. If an evacuation is necessary, emergency response personnel will coordinate.
If someone is in a station during an earthquake, back away from the edge of the trackway. If they’re in the station concourse, don’t proceed to the platform. Instead, prepare to evacuate the station under the direction of BART personnel.
BART said no matter where someone is, emergency experts recommend using text messaging instead of cellphone calls to communicate with family and loved ones in an emergency. Cell networks can be overwhelmed if everyone’s trying to call at the same time so text messages can be more efficient.
In September, BART completed its earthquake safety program, which retrofitted vulnerable high traffic portions of the original system to make it safer in a large quake. The program was funded in part by Measure AA, a $980 million general obligation BART bond approved by voters in 2004. The program focused on upgrading portions of the original system not only for life safety but also to ensure the system can return to operation shortly after a major earthquake.
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