Get Ready for the Great Southeast Shake Out, Oct. 20

NOVA will participate in The Great Southeast Shake Out Regional Earthquake Drill on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 10:20 a.m. This is an important opportunity to plan and practice steps you should take in the event of an earthquake. (Don’t laugh. Earthquakes are relatively rare in this area, but they do happen–think August 23, 2011.)

What do I do?
An announcement will be made on Oct. 20 at 10:20 a.m. using the College’s intercom telephone system, hallway monitors and computer displays to start the Drill. Once the announcement is made, you should DROP, COVER and HOLD ON!  

The Timeline will be as follows:

10:20 a.m.:  An announcement will be made that the Drill is starting: “This is the start of the Regional Earthquake Drill, please DROP, COVER and HOLD ON!” 

At this time, you should:

• DROP down onto your hands and knees so the earthquake doesn’t knock you down.
• COVER your head and neck with your arms to protect yourself from falling debris.
  • If you are in danger from falling objects, and you can move safely, crawl for additional cover under a sturdy desk or table.
  • If there is low furniture or an interior wall or corner nearby, and the path is clear, these may also provide some additional cover.
• HOLD ON to any sturdy covering so you can move with it until the shaking stops. Stay where you are until the shaking stops.
  • If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside comer of the building.
  • If getting safely to the floor to take cover won’t be possible, identify an inside corner of the room away from windows and objects that could fall on you.
  • The Earthquake Alliance advises getting as low as possible to the floor. People who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices should lock their wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book or whatever is available.

10:25 a.m.:  An announcement will be made that the Earthquake Drill is over: “The Earthquake Drill is over, please evacuate your building.” At this time, evacuate the building and report to your assembly point. *Persons with disabilities should seek assistance in evacuations.  

10:40 a.m.:  No announcement will be made, but the Drill has officially concluded. You should re-enter your building and go back to your office or continue class as scheduled.

The Office of Emergency Management will send a follow-up email with a link to a Survey Monkey survey. We ask that you please take a moment to complete the survey as best you can so that we can more accurately determine where we need to improve our alert systems.

*Note:  Mobility-challenged individuals are encouraged to do the following:

• If you are in a wheelchair: Lock your wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops and always protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, book or whatever may be available.
• Practice your Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan during the evacuation phase of this drill.
• Relocate to an Area of Assistance (if you are on a floor that does not exit directly to the outdoors) and wait there until the drill is complete.
• Please refer to the Emergency Action Plan for more information.

Information can be found by clicking: https://www.shakeout.org/southeast/

**This notification is intended to assure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

If you have questions about this drill or any initiatives of the Office of Emergency Management and Safety, just email oem@nvcc.edu or call 703-764-5043

Submitted by:
Tom Mayhew, Director of OEMS, TMayhew@nvcc.edu