By Emily Meeks, Class of 2015, office of Media Relations
Clemson University will observe the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:16 a.m on Oct. 16. The Great ShakeOut is a worldwide movement, which brings awareness to earthquake safety. The goal of the event is to increase preparedness by allowing people to practice what to do during an earthquake.
Individuals will follow the action put in place by federal and local emergency management experts: “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
A person cannot tell from the initial shaking if an earthquake will suddenly become intense, so he or she should drop to the ground, take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and hold onto the shelter, moving with it until the shaking stops. If people are unable to “drop, cover, and hold on,” they should get as low as possible, protect their head and neck, and move away from windows or other items that could fall on them.
Though Clemson is not on a fault line, there are multiple in the upstate that could pose a threat to our area. Clemson University Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Lynn Fisher adds, “You don’t have to live near or on a fault line to be impacted by an earthquake. The second and third order effects caused by an earthquake in another state can impact our lives right here. Know two ways out of every place you go or visit.”
Click here for more information on earthquake safety.
Read about the Great SouthEast Shakeout here.
