The time to prepare for an earthquake is before it happens. Remember it’s not if, but when.
On Oct. 16 at 10:16 a.m., Loma Linda University Health will participate in the 2014 Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill.
With 37 million people living and working in California, a major earthquake could cause unprecedented devastation. With earthquakes an inevitable part of California’s future, we must act quickly to ensure that disasters do not become catastrophes.
The Great California ShakeOut in October 2013 involved over 9.6 million Californians. The drill is now held annually on the third Thursday of October, and is organized by the Earthquake Country Alliance (www.earthquakecountry.org).
ShakeOut creates the sense of urgency that is needed for people, organizations and communities to get prepared, to practice what to do to be safe, and to learn what plans need to be improved.
Loma Linda University Health will participate in this year’s ShakeOut with the following objectives:
- emergency operation plan activation for emergency protocol code triage: external
- review earthquake life safety steps, by participating in drop, cover and hold on at 10:16 a.m.
- utilize our emergency notification system to alert students, employees and faculty
- receive a disaster condition assessment form from every department throughout Loma Linda University Health
- mobilize damage assessment teams
- practice building evacuation procedures using relocation points.
Make sure department downtime forms include emergency management forms. The forms may be found by accessing: VIP > Frequently Used > Forms.
On October 16, 10:16 a.m., each department should practice drop, cover and hold on. Once done, please complete the disaster condition assessment form and submit it to the command center using instructions on the form.
For questions, please contact environmental health and safety, ext. 14018.