by Andre Mor

The Southern California Earthquake Center was informing the residents of Eastern Riverside County about earthquake safety at Fiesta Campesina, an annual health fair that happened on September 26.

The area is in a very seismically active region, and it is where a big earthquake on the San Andreas fault that will shake all of Southern California is expected to begin, according to Robert de Groot, K-12 and Informal Education Programs Manager for SCEC.

This is the second year that the fair has been held, and was organized by the Eastern Coachella Valley Social Change Collaborative and other partnering organizations. The event's primary goal is to provide health services for the often-impoverished families of farmers in the Eastern Coachella Valley.

Larger imageSCEC's Robert de Groot shares earthquake preparedness information.

"They mean health in the broader sense of the word, health in terms of nutrition but also parenting skills, family services and some other basic skills," said de Groot.

The presence of SCEC in this event was crucial because of the location of the fair. When the anticipated earthquake on the southern part of the San Andreas fault happens, the Coachella Valley may be the first region to feel it.

"We were present at an event located where the earthquake may begin," said de Groot. "Riverside County is the 2^nd fastest growing county in the state, these people are building a livelihood in this region – earthquake safety is something they should know."

Larger image"Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country" is popular with readers of all ages.

SCEC distributed over 600 copies of "Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country," a handbook designed by SCEC to provide earthquake science and safety information. The majority of the copies given out were the Spanish version, according to de Groot. SCEC representatives at the fair presented the handbook to those attending and drew attention to the "Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety," a section that teaches how to prepare and deal with an earthquake.

"There is a sense of helplessness from some of the people, they say if they can't buy food how are they going to prepare earthquake kits? We try to let them know that there are little things they can do to prepare," said de Groot.

Other groups also set up a booth at the fair to talk about earthquake related issues, such as firefighters from the Riverside County Fire Department.

"This event allowed us to connect with other organizations SCEC can work with," said de Groot, "and it also put faces with all the names of the people we have been in contact with. Events like this broaden our reach."