Drop! Cover! And Hold On! with more than 10 million people - Oct. 18, 2012

Please join more than 10 million individuals on Oct. 18 in the 2012 ShakeOut! The Great Alaska ShakeOut is an earthquake drill that provides local communities, schools, businesses and organizations throughout the State of Alaska with an opportunity to practice how to stay safe during an earthquake and to practice the protective action of "Drop, Cover and Hold On."

• If you are in a building, move no more than a few steps.
• Drop to the ground, take Cover under a sturdy table or desk, and Hold On until the shaking stops. Drop! Cover! And Hold On!

This essential drill, which will be conducted in as little as 90 seconds at 10:18 a.m., serves as a reminder that earthquakes can occur at any time in any place. Knowing what to do in a disaster can make all the difference when seconds matter. UAA's Police Department and Office of Emergency Management will coordinate the drill on campus, using emergency paging systems to notify our community when the exercise has started. During a large earthquake, the ground might jerk strongly and knock you down. If you can't get under something sturdy, stay low and protect your head and neck with your arms.

The Alaska Division of Homeland Security asks that the UAA community visit the Alaska ShakeOut website today to learn how you can participate and be prepared for the next seismic event.

Following the event, please notify Lt. Swartz at Emergency Management (rcswartz@uaa.alaska.edu) if your work area on campus did not receive the drill announcement over speakerphones.