Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
Cal State San Bernardino and its Palm Desert Campus will join hundreds of colleges, universities and other organizations throughout the state, the country and around the world to “drop, cover and hold on” as part of the Great ShakeOut simulated earthquake drill on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 10:17 a.m.
The university will join more than 53 million people around the world who are expected to participate in the exercise, considered the world’s largest earthquake drill. During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”
The drill will also include testing of the university’s emergency communication system that includes text messages, email alerts, and website and social media announcements.
To help highlight the importance of being prepared for an earthquake, the Department of Geological Sciences and the College of Natural Sciences will host “The Great Shakeout: Earthquake Safety & Preparation,” featuring information to better prepare the community in the event of a devastating temblor. That event will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., before and after the short earthquake drill, on the walkway between the Biological and Chemical Sciences buildings. For more information, email Claire Todd, the geological sciences department chair, at claire.todd@csusb.edu.
In addition, university safety officials will conduct evacuation drills at the Center for Global Innovation and Student Health Services buildings.
During the ShakeOut drill, and should a real earthquake happen, the steps endorsed by emergency officials and first responders are to:
DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down by shaking and reduces your chance of being hit by falling or flying objects.
COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand.
- If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath for shelter
- If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall
- Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs
HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
- Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts
- No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.
Emergency officials created the ShakeOut drill, which began in California in 2008, to encourage people and organizations to be prepared in order to survive and recover when the next big earthquake happens.
The aim of the drill at CSUSB is to increase awareness among students, faculty, staff and others of steps to take before, during and after an earthquake, and to be aware and prepare for any disaster.
The earthquake drill also serves as a reminder for individuals to review and update their emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure any furnishings, fixtures and items at home and other locations to prevent damage and injuries.
Officials estimate that an earthquake of a severe magnitude will sever local access to water, electricity, gas, fiber-optics, telecommunications, roads and railways, and that there will be extensive damage throughout the region.
For more information, visit the Great ShakeOut website