Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill
DROP! COVER! HOLD ON!
Do you know what to do in an earthquake? Reed College participates in the worldwide Great ShakeOut Earthquake drill every year.
The annual international ShakeOut earthquake drill is officially held on the third Thursday every October. Countries all around the world are encouraged to participate to help their citizens prepare for the possibility of an earthquake occurring in their area.
This year, the third Thursday in October falls on October 17th, and the drill will take place at 10:17 a.m. The entire Reed community is requested to participate. Remember to take a photo of your participation in the drill to be entered into the contest to win a great earthquake preparedness prize. Email your photo to Community Safety Director Gary Granger at grangerg@reed.edu.
Here are the winning photos from last year's submissions:
Earthquake Facts:
- Earthquakes are the sudden, rapid shaking of the earth, caused by the breaking and shifting of underground rock.
- Earthquakes can happen anywhere at any time.
- Earthquakes give no warning.
- Earthquakes can cause infrastructure outages, fires, landslides, avalanches, and tsunamis.
- Earthquakes can cause heavy items to fall, damage roads, and collapse buildings potentially resulting in injuries and property damage.
How to stay safe when an earthquake threatens:
- If you are inside a building get on your knees underneath a sturdy object such as a table or desk, cover your head with one hand and hold onto the object with the other hand.
- If you are in a vehicle, pull over and stop.
- If you are in bed, stay there.
- If outdoors, stay outdoors.
- Do NOT get in a doorway.
- Do NOT run outside.