Campus to participate in Great ShakeOut earthquake drill Oct. 17

Edmonds Community College will participate in The Great ShakeOut on Thursday, Oct. 17.

The Great ShakeOut is a global emergency preparedness event that encourages participants to practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” during an earthquake. 

The Edmonds CC drill will held between 10-10:30 a.m. Thursday, and begin with a digital message display on all classroom and workspace digital clock speakers and a campus-wide announcement over the outdoor speaker system.

The drill will be performed again around 7:30 p.m. to allow participation by the college’s evening students and employees.

“Although the earthquake drill can seem disruptive to our daily schedules, working diligently to have a plan and be prepared in the face of an emergency is of critical importance, and I encourage all to participate,” said Jade Jeter-Hill, Edmonds CC director of Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness (SSEP). “It is vital to be aware of our surroundings and have a plan in place for all types of emergencies.”

According to federal, state, and local emergency management officials, the Drop, Cover, and Hold On protocol protects lives during earthquakes.

During an earthquake, you should:

• Drop to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),
• Take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
• Hold on to it until the shaking stops.

If there isn't a table or desk near you, drop to the ground in an inside corner of the building and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table.

In the event of a real emergency, the college will send out emergency notifications through the Triton Alert system. You can sign up for these alerts — email and text.

For more information on earthquake preparedness, visit shakeout.org.