The Great California Shakeout Set for Oct. 20

Chapman University is continuing its longstanding tradition of being a part of The Great California Shakeout, a statewide earthquake drill which will take place Thursday, October 20, 2022.  In addition to providing earthquake safety resources, we also use the drill to conduct a test of our Panther Alert System.

At 10:20 a.m. on October 20, 2022, the Chapman Community will be notified via Panther Alert to Drop, Cover, and Hold On for approximately 60-seconds. If you have not done so recently, please confirm your emergency contact information for the Panther Alert to ensure you receive pertinent information and instructions in the event of a life-threatening emergency affecting the Chapman campuses.

We would like to offer the following recommendations for those who elect to participate in the exercise:

• In advance of the drill, we encourage you to take a brief moment to read The Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety provided by the Earthquake Country Alliance.
• During the Shakeout Drill time, take note of surroundings in your classroom, office, home, or residence hall room, and consider which everyday objects may become hazards in the event of a large earthquake. For example, are bookcases and file cabinets secured to the wall, are there large objects above you which can fall causing head injuries, or is there a potential for large amounts of broken glass from windows or cabinets? Take the time to make these same assessments at home and view Step 1 to get some tips on how to secure your space.
• For faculty who would like to include a brief presentation to their class during the exercise here is a downloadable PowerPoint resource.
• We also recommend that you visit our emergency procedures web page which includes evacuation maps for both campuses and procedures to assist you in responding to an on-campus emergency.

Being prepared can make a difference when an actual earthquake happens. We look forward to everyone’s participation in this statewide drill and know you will benefit from the experience. For additional information or specific questions about the drill, please contact Dr. Rick Gonzalez, Chief of Public Safety, at rigonzalez@chapman.edu, or at (714) 744-6763.