By: Jenna Beresheim News Editor
On Oct. 15, 2015, Western will be participating in a statewide earthquake emergency preparedness initiative known as The Great Oregon ShakeOut.
The drill will take place at 10:15 a.m. with over 500,000 participants registered in the activity, from schools and universities, to workplaces. Nationwide, over 25.7 million people will be participating.
Western Oregon University participants will receive a WOUAlert at 10:15 a.m. to remind them to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” for a few moments. This is intended to have participants practice proper earthquake responses.
“We’ve been made aware of the danger, and this will be Western’s first year participating in this drill. It’s going to lay the groundwork for safety in the future,” said Nancy Ganson, the Assistant to the Director and Building Manager for Todd Hall. “It’s all about the baby steps.”
Classes that find this too disruptive are encouraged to at least spend that time having a discussion on earthquake preparedness and how to react in the case that one does happen.
Those on campus who are working at the time are also urged to have this conversation with coworkers and staff to ensure everyone is safe.
“Do things like go over and practice a plan with your loved ones,” said Rebecca Chiles, Director of Campus Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Risk Management.
“Put an emergency supply kit together,” said Chiles, “The better prepared people are, the better their ability to respond and recover during an emergency.”
Oregon recently discovered that hundreds of schools are underprepared when it comes to a bad quake. The Oregon legislature recently committed $175 million for schools to use rehabilitating their structures to modern earthquake safety standards.
“There [are] variables that cannot be predicted fully right now, but we can be prepared,” Ganson said.
Knowing what to do in case of an emergency is only half the battle. Preparing kits, planning with family and friends, and educating yourself further are strongly recommended.
“Don’t forget to plan for pets, and don’t forget your medication,” Chiles said, “also, think about taking a CERT class, or CPR/First Aid if you want to be able to help others.”
Chiles referred interested students to Kimber Townsend as a teacher for CERT classes, while CPR/First Aid classes are taught by Campus Public Safety.
“The more aware you are, the better it’s going to be for everyone,” reminded Ganson, who also brought up a question that is often forgotten in emergency preparedness: “What’s in your trunk?”
The idea focuses on emergency kits within your vehicle in the case your house becomes inaccessible, or if you are not near home when an earthquake happens. This way, even an individual who is at work can be prepared for themselves and others around them. Especially for those who may not be able to return home any time soon.
Ganson asked important questions for students and staff to think about: “Are the bridges going to be down? What is your house going to be like? Will we be able to access other towns such as Salem, or will we be settled in Monmouth for a while?”
Basic starter emergency kits include water, food, hand crank radios, flashlights and batteries, first aid supplies, and so forth.
For a complete breakdown of what an emergency kit should look like, please visit www.ready.gov.
