October 17, 2024 Great ShakeOut
Don't be alarmed; be prepared!
Today, at 10:17 a.m. MiraCosta College will be participating in the Great ShakeOut. This is only a drill, you will not need to evacuate your classrooms, offices, or campus.
The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are annual opportunities to learn and practice earthquake safety with millions worldwide!
Each year, ShakeOut participants in schools, businesses, non-profits, government agencies, neighborhoods, organizations, and households worldwide practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” and other aspects of their emergency plans.
The goal of ShakeOut is to encourage people and organizations to be prepared to survive and recover quickly when the next big earthquake happens.
Learn more about earthquake preparedness at miracosta.edu/alert.
October 16, 2024 Great ShakeOut Notice
Subject: Shake Out, Don’t Freak Out. Great Shakeout—Oct. 17 at 10:17 a.m.
Hello MiraCostans,
Earthquakes can strike without warning, and we must be prepared to protect ourselves when they do. To ensure our community is ready, MiraCosta College will participate in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill tomorrow, October 17, at 10:17 a.m., along with millions nationwide.
Here’s how you can prepare for and participate in the drill
- Ensure the volume on your office or classroom phones is turned up so you can hear the announcement.
- The drill will occur at 10:17 a.m.; announcements will be made over loudspeakers and telephones.
- This drill will allow us to practice our earthquake response and ensure our emergency alert systems are functioning properly.
During the Drill
- The drill will begin at 10:17 a.m. and end at 10:18 a.m.
- An announcement will play through the campus loudspeakers and internal phones, including instructions on what to do during an earthquake.
- Follow the instructions to Drop, Cover, and Hold On, or simply listen to the announcement..
Know Your Evacuation Locations
While we will not evacuate during this earthquake drill, this is a good opportunity to ensure you are familiar with your designated evacuation location in the event of an actual emergency. Whether in your classroom, office, or another area on campus, it’s essential to know where to go when it’s time to evacuate. Please take a moment to review MiraCosta's evacuation maps for your specific location here:Evacuation Maps.
We encourage you to practice this drill in class, at work, or even at home if you are learning or working remotely. This is a critical opportunity for all of us to prepare and ensure we know what to do in the event of a large earthquake.
After the Drill
- If your office or classroom phone did not function during the drill, please report it to your supervisor and ensure a help desk ticket is submitted.
- Whether you are a student, faculty, or classified professional does not matter. Ensure the emergency contact information MiraCosta College has on file is current so you can receive texts, calls, and emails. Students, keep your information current on SURF, and faculty and classified professionals can update your information on MiraCosta College's Workday system (note: you must log in with your MiraCosta single sign-on).
- Visit GreatShakeout.org for more information about earthquake preparedness, including how to create a personal disaster-preparedness plan.
Additional preparedness tips:
REVIEW EMERGENCY EVACUATION LOCATION. Be familiar with evacuation locations when working remotely or on campus. MiraCosta College is experiencing a great deal of construction, which only elevates the importance of knowing where to go in an emergency. Need help determining where to gather during an emergency? Please find the evaluation plans located on the Campus Police website.
PRACTICE PREPAREDNESS: With anything, practice makes perfect, so on October 17 at 10:17 a.m., you are encouraged to use this time to practice your preparedness.
ASSEMBLE A “GO BAG.”Always have a “go bag” assembled in your home, office, and vehicle for safety and comfort. Click here for a list of items to include in your “go bag.”
PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. Be proactive in protecting your property. While homeowner/renter insurance requires fire coverage, many are not covered for earthquakes or floods. The California Earthquake Authority site is user-friendly and provides information and quotes to homeowners and renters on insurance options. It is worth the time to check it out.
MiraCosta sincerely cares about our students, faculty, and classified professionals. If any life-changing event impacts you, MiraCosta is here to support you.
If students have questions or concerns, call the CARE hotline: 442.262.2200. The CARE hotline will provide information about resources available to students on and off campus.
MiraCosta employees and their dependents can receive confidential services to help with various personal challenges. The Employee Assistance Services for Education (EASE) provides free, short-term counseling over the phone or by appointment. To learn more, please contact the EASE Program at 1.888.736.7009.
MiraCosta cares about our students, faculty, and staff. As a community, we need to be proactive about emergency preparedness. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation in this important emergency exercise and apologize for any inconvenience this drill may cause.
Let’s participate in this important drill to ensure our MiraCosta College community is prepared and safe. Thank you for your participation!
