The University of Oregon is participating in the annual Great Oregon ShakeOut on Oct. 20 and is recommending that all students and employees take part in the earthquake safety drill at 2:20 p.m.

The event is designed to promote earthquake preparedness, an important issue in a region that faces an overdue and potentially massive Cascadia quake and coastal tsunami, as well as periodic, less severe quakes. Earthquakes can happen anytime and almost anywhere, and most injuries during such events are caused by falling or flying objects.

The drill provides an opportunity to practice "drop, cover and hold on” for 60 seconds:

• Drop to the ground (before the earthquake drops you).
• Cover your head and neck with your arms and seek additional shelter by getting under a sturdy desk or table if one is nearby.
• Hold on to your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops.

Those are the key steps to remember should there be an earthquake, but you may need to adapt to your situation. For example, if there is no table or desk near you, drop to the ground and then, if possible, get next to an interior wall of the room. Be in a crawling position to protect your vital organs and be ready to move if necessary. Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.

If you are in a wheelchair, lock your wheels. Cover your head and neck with your arms or a pillow and hold on until the shaking stops. The Great Oregon ShakeOut website has guidance for individuals who have trouble getting to the ground or getting back up without assistance.

Do not move to another location or run outside.  Shaking can quickly become so violent that you may be unable to run or crawl.

The Earthquake Country Alliance provides additional accessibility tips and guidance for some specific settings, such as driving or being near the ocean shore or in a stadium or theater when a quake hits.

On Oct. 20, the UO will send a notification that the drill is about to start through its UO Alerts mass-notification system. UO Alerts sends an email to all students and employees and text messages to everyone signed up to receive the notices. Any students or employees who have not signed up for UO Alerts are strongly encouraged to do so, as that is how the UO gets information out quickly in emergency situations.

"It's a question of when, not if, a damaging earthquake will occur in the Pacific Northwest,” said Kelly Missett, ShakeAlert technical engagement regional coordinator. “But simple preparedness steps can save lives when the ‘big one’ hits. ShakeOut is an important opportunity to practice what we will need to do to keep ourselves safe."

Students and employees are encouraged to ensure their phones are powered by ShakeAlert. The ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system can detect significant earthquakes quickly so alerts can be sent to people before they feel shaking, giving them time to drop, cover and hold on.

All Oregonians can receive earthquake early warning alerts on their personal cell phones via three different methods: wireless emergency alerts, Android OS alerts and ShakeAlert-powered apps. Two free apps are available for download: MyShake and QuakeAlertUSA. To learn more about the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system, visit the U.S. Geological Survey website.

For more tips and training on earthquake preparation and response for individuals and UO departments, visit the Safety and Risk Services website.

—By Amy Shadell, University Communications