Earthquake safety drill held as part of SF's 36th Fleet Week

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - It's "Selfie with a Sailor" all week long in San Francisco.

That's because more than 2,000 sailors, marines, and members of the U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy are expected to arrive for the city's 36th Fleet Week.

It's an event that typically attracts one million spectators.

But behind the dazzling death-defying stunts of the Blue Angels, and noble-looking military warcraft sailing into the San Francisco Bay, these images have become practically synonymous with Fleet Week; the real meaning behind the week-long event is to give the military and local emergency crews a chance to train together.

This morning, they took part in an earthquake safety drill.

"We don't come till we're asked but if the call if made, we will be there. Why? Because we're your United States Navy and your United States Marine Corps.," said an impassioned Rear Admiral Daniel Fillion, U.S. Navy.

"The blue- green team works for each and every one of you and each and every one of your families."

Mayor Ed Lee praised the disaster response exercises that local police and fire as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and FEMA participated in. "A city that's resilient is going to make sure that the people, the very people and neighborhoods get connected up with our emergency response teams," Lee said.

But of course, the big draw will be the Blue Angels, which begin practice Thursday, with air shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

"Usually I'm always driving over the Bay Bridge when they’re flying so that's really cool," said Ashley Sura, San Francisco. "Cause they'll fly over and under, the whole thing and so it's kind of scary at the same time as it's kind of awesome."

Rick Vandiver used to be in the Airforce and appreciates the precision of the Blue Angels. "It's pretty amazing what they can do. Fly so close together and look like they're just going to miss each other."

The Parade of Ships runs this Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Tours of the ships run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.