2012 Great Oregon ShakeOut

LBCC will be among the 96,000 people who are participating in this year's Oregon ShakeOut. On October 18, we're going to "Drop, Cover, and Hold" as procedures will be practiced following a 7.8 earthquake simulation.

It will start at 10:18 a.m. with an announcement on the PA. Staff and faculty will then take over in each classroom and read a small script describing the earthquake and what your surroundings and possible hazards would be like. You'll be given instructions on how to protect yourself and what to do once the "shaking" stops.

"There are over 1000 earthquakes over magnitude 1.0 in Washington and Oregon every year, with at least two dozen being large enough to be felt. Approximately 17 people have lost their lives due to earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest." according to shakeout.org.

The Great Oregon ShakeOut is not only an opportunity for us to become familiar with LBCC's procedures but also a fantastic reminder that having a plan in place and knowing how to react to an earthquake could save your life.

According to shakeout.org, official rescue teams who have been dispatched to the scene of earthquakes and other disasters around the world continue to advocate use of the internationally recognized "Drop, Cover and Hold On" protocol to protect lives during earthquakes:

• 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.

Here are a few more earthquake survival tips:
(courtesy of geology.com)

During the Earthquake:

• If you are indoors, stay there. Quickly move to a safe location in the room such as under a strong desk, a strong table, or along an interior wall. The goal is to protect yourself from falling objects and be located near the structural strong points of the room. Avoid taking cover near windows, large mirrors, hanging objects, heavy furniture, heavy appliances or fireplaces.
• If you are cooking, turn off the stove and take cover.
• If you are outdoors, move to an open area where falling objects are unlikely to strike you. Move away from buildings, powerlines and trees.
• If you are driving, slow down smoothly and stop on the side of the road. Avoid stopping on or under bridges and overpasses, or under power lines, trees and large signs. Stay in your car. 

After the Earthquake:

• Check for injuries, attend to injuries if needed, help ensure the safety of people around you.
• Check for damage. If your building is badly damaged you should leave it until it has been inspected by a safety professional.
• If you smell or hear a gas leak, get everyone outside and open windows and doors. If you can do it safely, turn off the gas at the meter. Report the leak to the gas company and fire department. Do not use any electrical appliances because a tiny spark could ignite the gas.
• If the power is out, unplug major appliances to prevent possible damage when the power is turned back on. If you see sparks, frayed wires, or smell hot insulation turn off electricity at the main fuse box or breaker. If you will have to step in water to turn off the electricity you should call a professional to turn it off for you.

So if you're on campus on October 18 at 10:18 a.m., be prepared to drop, cover, and hold on because the Great Oregon ShakeOut is going to teach us all how to prepare for the real thing.