SUBJECT:

Earthquake Preparedness - The Great California ShakeOut - October 17, 2019

California is earthquake country. With the July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes measuring 7.1 and 6.4 in magnitude and the recent large magnitude earthquakes in Puerto Rico, it is a great time to practice what to do during an earthquake. UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to participate in the Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on October 17, 2019, which begins at approximately 10:17 a.m. The goal of the ShakeOut is to prepare all Californians to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” in the event of an earthquake. With more than 8.6 million registered participants, the Great California ShakeOut is the biggest earthquake drill in the nation. Learn what experts recommend to survive an earthquake at http://www.earthquakecountry.org/dropcoverholdon/. Log your activities by visiting https://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/emergencies/preparedness/get-ready/shakeout.html.

If an earthquake occurs, Drop, Cover, and Hold On until the shaking stops, then proceed outside to a safe location. Do not run outside. Do not stand in a doorway. Avoid elevators and use the nearest door with an EXIT sign to leave the building. Follow your department's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) or develop one starting at https://go.ucsd.edu/2NjJebH. Proceed to your designated assembly area, report for a headcount, and stay in the area until you receive direction from emergency responders or authorized UC San Diego staff. If you are not familiar with your EAP, ask your supervisor or advisor for more information. A summary of the University’s emergency response procedures is available at http://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/emergencies/preparedness/guide.html. For more information about how to prepare for and survive an earthquake, visit: http://www.earthquakecountry.org/ and http://go.ucsd.edu/2d9ZpcB.

Our Residence Halls will conduct their annual evacuation drill at approximately 7:00 a.m. Expect to see students gathered outside of residential locations. Every residence hall and apartment on campus has a designated assembly area in the event of an emergency.

During the ShakeOut, UC San Diego will send a Triton Alert emergency notification. The system will send test email messages to all ucsd.edu accounts. Students, faculty, and staff will also receive test text messages if they have provided a cell phone number for this method of delivery. Users can update or register emergency contact information by going to http://go.ucsd.edu/2dyFnLp. We will also send the message via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow us at @UCSDTritonAlert. Triton Alert will roll out a new UC San Diego mobile app shortly in partnership with our mass notification system vendor, Everbridge. Look for information on our new app coming soon!

In addition, every UC San Diego department must have an Emergency Action Plan, which provides detailed information about the evacuation procedures for individual buildings. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your EAP before an emergency occurs. For assistance with organizing your drill or information regarding the exercise, please contact Dismas Abelman, Emergency Manager at dabelman@ucsd.edu, or 858-534-5451. Additional information can be found at:

- http://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/emergencies/preparedness/get-ready/evacuation.html
- http://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/emergencies/preparedness/guide.html
- http://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/emergencies/preparedness/get-ready/plan.html
- http://adminrecords.ucsd.edu/ppm/docs/516-29.HTML
- https://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/emergencies/campuswide/notifications/faq.html
- https://students.ucsd.edu/campus-services/campus-safety/triton-alert.html

Thank you for your assistance in helping to keep our campus community safe and prepared.

Dismas Abelman Emergency Manager, EH&S Corey Singleton Director, EH&S