Great California ShakeOut!

Monday, October 13, 2014

accompanying photo

At 10:16 a.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2014, Cerro Coso Community College staff and students will join millions of Californians when they "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" in the Great California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill ever!

Major earthquakes may happen anywhere you work, live, or travel in California. Are you really prepared?

The college uses this opportunity to practice how to prepare for, survive, and recover from a damaging earthquake. During the drill Cerro Coso administrators and staff will activate the Incident Command System and set up an Emergency Operations Center to practice emergency preparedness, emergency management, and disaster management in a safe and controlled environment.

All students, staff, faculty, and visitors are expected to practice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" and safe evacuation from college buildings to predetermined evacuation points.

The college takes this occasion every year to review and update the Emergency Action Plan, test the college emergency notification system-CCAlert, and practice: what to do in an earthquake, safe evacuation, activate the ICS, establish an EOC, and build on "best practices" and lessons learned.

"Regular and frequent emergency response training provided to all our key operational and support staff ensures we are prepared to address any emergency," states Safety Manager John Daly. "Practice makes preparedness and the Great ShakeOut allows us to practice to reduce chaos and confusion during an actual emergency."

More than 24 million people are registered to participate in the 2013 Great ShakeOut worldwide. Cerro Coso encourages all to participate in the event. Register today at www.shakeout.org/california/register.

Extensive information is available for the public at www.ShakeOut.org/California.

What we do now, before a big earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like afterwards. Register today!