Campus prepares for its annual earthquake drill
Californians are used to earthquakes, but it’s probably a good idea to always stay prepared for whenever one hits.
On Oct. 19, CSUDH will join Californians statewide as they “drop, cover, and hold on” during the annual International ShakeOut Day earthquake emergency drill. According to the California Earthquake Authority, the state is at a higher risk for earthquakes than the rest of the country due to the movement of the San Andreas Fault and the associated fault system.
Here’s how the Great ShakeOut will look on campus: Toros will be sent an alert at 10:19 a.m. reminding them to hit the ground and take cover for one minute.
After one minute has passed, participants will be asked to evacuate to their designated emergency assembly area.
Evacuation Coordinators wearing orange vests will be on hand to help assist with the evacuation. An “all-clear” alert will be sent at 10:30 a.m. to let everyone know the exercise is over.
According to CSUDH Police, the Great ShakeOut is “an excellent way for families, schools, and businesses to prepare for and recover quickly from an earthquake.”
The Great California ShakeOut website offers several safety tips during a real earthquake, such as staying indoors until the quake stops and exercising caution in the immediate aftermath.
For anyone who may find themselves indoors during an earthquake, it’s important to find a clear area away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and powerlines – this should help to avoid getting hit by loose debris. Continue to drop, cover, and hold on in place until the shaking stops.
Likewise, drivers on the road should act quickly to find a safe and secure location to pull over. Drivers should remain in their vehicles with the seatbelt fastened until the earthquake is over. They should then proceed with caution and avoid any bridges or ramps that may have been damaged.
It’s also important for everyone to be wary of damaged building structures and random flying objects or broken glass – all of which can cause injury or death during an earthquake. People should also try to move as little as possible until they can reach a safe and secure area.
“Everyone, everywhere should know how to protect themselves during an earthquake! Thus, anyone can participate – ShakeOut is for everyone,” The Great ShakeOut website states.
