Members of the College of Arts and Sciences community will have the opportunity to practice their earthquake preparedness skills when the University of Oregon conducts a campus-wide earthquake drill on Oct. 17 as part of Great ShakeOut Day.

Nearly 500,000 Oregonians and 50 million people worldwide are expected to participate in the drill.

At 2:17 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, UO Safety and Risk Services will send out a university-wide alert through UOAlerts informing people about the Great ShakeOut and asking them to “drop, cover and hold on.”

According to the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT), the Great ShakeOut aims to “improve understanding of seismic hazard and resilience in our region, where earthquakes are rarely felt, but have the potential to occur with devastating consequences.”

Scientists recommend the “drop, cover and hold on.” method as soon as an earthquake alert is sent out or shaking occurs. Here’s what to do:

• Drop onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and reduces your chances of being hit by falling or flying objects.

• Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a table is nearby, crawl underneath for shelter. If there is no shelter, crawl next to an interior wall. Staying on your knees is critical to protect vital organs.

• Hold on to yourself or your shelter until the shaking stops.

Beyond recommending the above protective actions during the drill, CRESCENT, the Oregon Hazards Lab and UO Safety and Risk Services have organized several events to promote earthquake safety education and encourage participation in ShakeOut week.

Learn about the Cascadia Subduction Zone: UO faculty, staff and students are invited to a presentation about the Cascadia Subduction Zone and earthquake preparedness on Oct. 16 from noon to 1 p.m. in the EMU.

Prepare for the Big One: A public panel will discuss current knowledge about the Big One and what Pacific Northwest communities can do to prepare on Oct. 17 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. The panel will include expert seismologists, researchers and emergency managers.

Both events will kick off with a sneak peek of the new documentary, Rumblings: Preparing for Cascadia, which features University of Oregon employees.

For more information on the Great ShakeOut and earthquake safety, visit the Great ShakeOut website.

—By Bailey Meyers, College of Arts and Sciences