Date: September 14, 2010
Attention: ASCIP Members
Subject: The Great Southern California
Shake Out - 2010
Recent earthquake emergency events such as the September 4th
Christchurch, New Zealand 7.1 earthquake and the multiple earthquakes affecting
Haiti and Chile in 2010 have heightened awareness to emergency preparedness.
While other events receive much media attention and emergency planning efforts,
earthquakes are still the largest disaster threat to California schools, colleges
and universities.
During 2008, the Los Angeles County Office of Education partnered with the Earthquake Country Alliance to promote
"The Great Southern California Shake Out" (Shake Out) in an effort to
raise earthquake awareness for all residents, students, parents, public safety
officers, educational and political leaders of Southern California. The Great
Southern California Shake Out was a seven-day special event based on an
earthquake scenario developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Due to the success
of the 2008 Shakeout, a second Shakeout was held in 2009, which was another
great success.
This year, the third Shake Out event will occur. The drill will
take place on October 21st, 2010 at 10:21A.M.
While the Shake Out will not be coordinated with an official emergency exercise
this year, organizers are encouraging public educational agencies to
participate in the drill. Organizers are hoping to achieve 10 million
registered participants. In 2008, nearly 5 Million students and staff
participated in the event. To register for the Shake Out, go to www.shakeout.org/register.
ASCIP is encouraging its Members to participate in the Shake Out's
October 21st drill as a way to prepare for future
disaster events. The Shake Out drill is an effective way to test Member's
current emergency preparedness plans and the interaction between emergency
response personnel.
Education Code Section 32282(a)(2)(B)(i)(II) requires, as part of
the Comprehensive School Safety Plan, that public elementary schools conduct a
"drop" procedure once every quarter and public secondary school
conduct a "drop" procedure once every semester. Participation in
the Shake Out's drill complies with Ed. Code Section 32282.
The Great Southern California Shake Out offers many ways for
educational agencies to participate, starting with simply conducting a
"drop/duck, cover and hold" exercise. To learn more about ways
educational agencies can participate, visit www.shakeout.org/schools.
ASCIP Staff is available to answer any questions regarding
this event.