Earthquakes
7 Steps To Earthquake Safety
The Earthquake Country Alliance, California Earthquake Authority, and California Governor's Office of Emergency Services have come together to develop the Central Valley South edition of Staying Safe Where the Earth Shakes. This informational includes the 7 Steps to Earthquake Safety.
Preparedness before an Earthquake (Steps 1-4)
- Step 1: Secure Your Space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items.
- Step 2: Plan To Be Safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.
- Step 3: Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.
- Step 4: Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.
Surviving & Recovering From An Earthquake (Steps 5-7)
- Step 5: Drop, Cover, and Hold On when the earth shakes.
- Step 6: Improve safety after earthquakes by evacuating if necessary, helping the injured, and preventing further injuries or damage.
- Step 7: Reconnect & Restore daily life by reconnecting with others, repairing damage, and rebuilding community. After the immediate threat of the earthquake has passed, your level of preparedness will determine your quality of life in the weeks and months that follow.
The Great California Shakeout
Each year, Porterville College participates in The Great California Shakeout to prepare for earthquakes. During this drill, the whole campus or selected areas participate. This helps us prepare for potential earthquake emergency situations.
The next Great California Shakeout drill will be on Thursday, October 17th, 2024, at 10:17 AM.
During the drill, an emergency notification will be sent out campus wide. When you hear the notification, Drop, Cover and Hold. A second alert will be sounded indicating a campus-wide evacuation. Please exit your building calmly and safely. Help others evacuate, especially those that require mobility assistance. Head to a safe location outdoors that is away from buildings, windows, and other structural hazards. Emergency Responders and/or Campus Safety Officers will begin checking buildings and other campus property to ensure everyone has evacuated safely. Once the Incident Command Center has been notified that all buildings are cleared, an "all clear" will be sounded indicating when people on campus can return to their buildings.
