Campus Earthquake Drill- Great California ShakeOut

Thursday, October 15, millions of people in Southern California will "drop, cover, and hold on" as part of the Great ShakeOut. The ShakeOut continues to be the largest earthquake drill practiced in the United States.

USD will use the opportunity to test our emergency mass-notification systems, including our outdoor notification system. At 10:15 a.m., on Thursday, October 15, every staff member, faculty member and student on campus is encouraged to drop, cover and hold on for 60 seconds. The drop-and-cover procedure is a proven technique to stay safer during a major quake when heavy objects may be falling. Take cover under a sturdy desk or table as soon as the shaking begins, hold on, and simply ride out the shaking.

Staff, faculty and students should enroll or update their contact information in the MySanDiego portal at https://my.sandiego.edu/. The Emergency Notification channel can be found in the center of the the "Welcome Tab."

Other steps to prepare for an earthquake include:

• Review the earthquake response directions at: http://www.sandiego.edu/alert/preparedness/earthquake.php

• Log on to http://shakeout.org/ to register for the drill and learn more about the Great ShakeOut

• Visit San Diego County Office of Emergency Services at: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ for other information on preparedness and family disaster planning

These sources will tell you how to prepare for an earthquake and what to do during and immediately after an earthquake. This information will give you the confidence to react appropriately - drop, cover and hold on - when the need arises.

Southern California earthquake centers warn that a major earthquake is a virtual certainty for the region. The ShakeOut drill is a prime opportunity for the USD campus community to increase their knowledge and to practice their responses.