Prepare for an Earthquake with the 2024 Great ShakeOut Drill on Oct. 17
Fullerton College will be among thousands of schools and businesses across California and worldwide to participate in The Great ShakeOut Drill at 10:17 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17. The earthquake and emergency preparedness drill will provide the campus an opportunity to review earthquake drill procedures, test the emergency communications system and practice evacuation protocols to ensure students, staff and faculty are prepared for a major earthquake or disaster.
Beginning at 10:17 a.m. students and employees on campus will hear a live announcement delivered through the landline phones (Cisco) located throughout the campus. Campus safety officers, building evacuation marshals, and floor evacuation marshals will direct students, staff and faculty to drop, cover and hold under a desk for about one minute and then begin the evacuation process outdoors. Everyone on campus will be instructed to vacate the buildings and gather in designated evacuation areas on campus until the drill has concluded. The drill is expected to last about 20-30 minutes.
During the drill, staff will participate in the evacuation of individuals with fake injuries by setting up a mock triage area on the Campus Quad.
At 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 17, the Office of Campus Communications will test the emergency communications system through text message, voicemail and email. Students and employees are encouraged to review and update their contact information in MyGateway to ensure these important messages are received.
How to Prepare
- Staff and faculty should check and adjust their Cisco phone’s volume to a high setting, ensuring it is not set too low or muted, to guarantee the drill announcement can be heard.
- Students, staff and faculty should review and update their contact information in MyGateway to ensure they receive the phone, text and email alerts for the drill and future emergencies.
In most earthquakes, you will reduce your chance of injury if you:
- DROP where you are onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and reduces your chances 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.
A Timeline of the Great ShakeOut Drill on Oct. 17
8:30 a.m. – Students and staff receive a text message, phone message and email informing them of the drill that will take place later that morning.
10:17 a.m. – The Office of Campus Safety initiates the Great ShakeOut drill through an announcement via the landline phones (Cisco) throughout the campus. Students and staff will be directed to drop, cover and hold on for about one minute.
10:18 a.m. – All students, staff and faculty will evacuate the building to a designated location outdoors. A mock triage area will be set up in the Campus Quad.
10:45 a.m. – The drill is expected to end and staff and students can resume normal operations.
If you have any questions regarding Fullerton College’s evacuation exercise or drill, please contact the Campus Safety office at 714-992-7080 ext. 0.
For a complete guide and tips on how to prepare for a major earthquake, visit the Great ShakeOut’s website.
Download the evacuation map today.
