On Thursday, Oct. 16, the UC Berkeley campus will participate in the “Great California ShakeOut,” a statewide day of events designed to encourage Californians to prepare for major earthquakes and other emergencies.
At 10:16 a.m, campus warning sirens will sound. Members of the campus community are encouraged to practice sheltering under a desk and holding tight. Instructors and students in class need not participate in this exercise.
For the ShakeOut, the campus will practice other key aspects of emergency-response and evacuation procedures. At Sproul Hall, occupants will practice “drop, cover and hold on” at 10:16 a.m., then evacuate the building to test building emergency procedures, including departmental roll call.
Radio communication between campus building coordinators and emergency management area coordinators will also be tested. A key component of the campus emergency response, this system is designed to strengthen the ability to effectively and efficiently facilitate a campuswide evacuation.
A free emergency-preparedness mobile app — offering Berkeley-specific tips and guidance for earthquakes, power outages, suspicious packages and other situations — is available from the campus Office of Emergency Management. Visit oem.berkeley.edu for download instructions and other emergency-related resources.
Members of the campus community are also encouraged to sign up for WarnMe text alerts via the WarnMe website. Because text messages are the fastest way to receive notification in an emergency, it’s recommended that they be designated as one’s first alert priority.
Related information:
- For questions, email the Office of Emergency Management at oem@berkeley.edu.
- Video Q&A: Lessons learned from Loma Prieta (NewsCenter video, October 2014)
- The Great California ShakeOut website
- Political leaders agree: The time for a statewide earthquake early warning system is now. (NewsCenter article, September 2014)
- From the bayou to Berkeley, a master of disaster management (NewsCenter profile of OEM director Amina Assefa, March 2014)