Fall Earthquake Drill: The Great California ShakeOut
Click here for an earthquake scenario video.
Preparedness and emergency response drills and exercises help reinforce skills and knowledge needed during an actual emergency. HMC conducts the following drills and exercises:
Fall Semester
Dorm Evacuation Drill - Student Dorms Only. The date and time of this drill will not be announced.
Mass Notification System Test and Drill (MUDD Alert) - The HMC campus wide mass notification test (MUDD Alert) will be in conjunction with the Great California ShakeOut Drill.
Tabletop Emergency Response Exercises - Incident Management Team. Every fourth Friday, 2:45pm-4:00pm. Contact Melonee Cruse for location.
Spring Semester
Fire Alarm and Building Evauation Drill - Academic and administrative buildings only.Date and time will be announced.
Tabletop Emergency Response Exercises: Incident Managment Team. Every fourth Friday, 2:45pm - 4:00pm.
Summer
(Dates and times to be announced)
Outdoor Broadcast System testing.
Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.
Earthquake Drill
The Great California ShakeOut Drill
Each fall millions of people in homes, schools, businesses, government offices, and public places all over southern California will Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Why? An enormous earthquake is in our future, and the ShakeOut Drill is our chance to practice what to do when it happens.
The Great Southern California ShakeOut is based on a potential magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault— approximately 5,000 times larger than the magnitude 5.4 Chino Hills earthquake that shook southern California on July 29. It’s not a matter of if an earthquake of this size will happen—but when. And it is possible that it will happen in our lifetime.
The ShakeOut Earthquke Scenario was designed by Dr. Lucy Jones of the U.S. Geological Survey and over 300 scientists, engineers, and others who have studied the likely consequences of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The ShakeOUT Earthquake Scenario is also the basis of this year’s statewide emergency response exercise.
Why is important to do a “Drop, Cover, Hold On” drill?
During the 5.4 Chino Hills Earthquake on July 19th, 2008, many people did not know what to do. Many forgot they should Drop, Cover and Hold On. In a big earthquake, there may be very little time to protect yourself before strong shaking knocks you down or drops something on you. Most earthquakes have a sharp jolt a few seconds before the strong shaking, and we need to Drop, Cover, Hold On immediately when we feel the jolt. By practicing we will act quickly, rather than waiting to see if the earthquake will be large. If it is, it may be too late to protect yourself.
For more information about the Great Southern California ShakeOut Exercise go to http://www.shakeout.org.
The Drill
Date: Every fall, usually in October
Time: 10 a.m.: (The Claremont Colleges Mass Notification Test will occur at this exact time reminding everyone to participate in the ShakeOut Drill)
Length of drill: 5-10 minutes
What to do:
1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On: All HMC faculty, staff, and students should Drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a magnitude 7.8 earthquake were happening.
2. If you cannot do this, please consider where you would stay down for at least 60 seconds. Remember: Practice now so you will know what to do should you experience a large magnitude earthquake. (See http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/step5.html or www.earthquakecountry.com for more information on what to do if outside, driving, in a tall building, or other situations).
3. While still under the table, or wherever you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a big earthquake, when shaking may last for 1-2 minutes!
HMC Community, consider these questions:
- At your present location, what falling object could cause injury or block an exit?
- Do you have any supplies available to help yourself or others (i.e. first aid, flashlights, whistles, food, water, etc)
- How will you notify your family or others to let them know your condition (i.e. safe, injured, etc)?
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