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If You’re Inside

  • When you feel an earthquake, duck under a sturdy desk, table, or other piece of sturdy furniture or equipment.

  • Stay away from windows, bookcases, file cabinets, tall furniture, heavy mirrors, paintings, and other objects that could fall. Watch out for falling plaster, lighting fixtures, or ceiling tiles.

  • Stay under cover until the shaking stops. If no desk or table is available, seek cover against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Hold onto the desk or table. If it moves, move with it.

  • Hold your position until the ground stops shaking and it is safe to move. Do not rush outdoors, since most injuries occur from falling glass, plaster, bricks, debris, and electrical lines as people are leaving buildings.

If You’re Outside

If you are outside, remain there and move into the open. Move away from overhangs, light poles, and trees. Remain in the open and away from all structures, including buildings.

After the Earthquake

Remain calm and take whatever actions necessary to prevent injuries and further damage. Check yourself and people around you for injuries. Do not attempt to move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Provide first aid where necessary. Do not panic and do all that is possible to calm others. Move cautiously and observe your surroundings for hazardous situations.

Facilities will provide public safety instructions, information, traffic reports, and any other earthquake-related news. Aftershocks may occur at any moment with nearly the same force as the original quake. Be prepared, and protect yourself first.

Evacuations

An evacuation may be initiated after a strong earthquake in which the building may have received structural damage. Facilities personnel will initiate the evacuation by pulling a manual pull station in each building. All employees, visitors, and contractors should report to their designated meeting areas outside; do not use areas of rescue for post-earthquake evacuation.

Evacuation Maps

While many employees may want to leave the site to check on their homes and families, they should remain at DigiPen at least long enough to be accounted for. Those that do depart should drive extremely cautiously. Remaining employees should stay away from the buildings in order to avoid falling debris. Please do not smoke or wander around, and do not attempt to reenter any building until directed to do so by Facilities personnel. Building re-entrance will occur after an inspection of the facility has been conducted.

Do not attempt to use your telephone except for genuine emergency calls (e.g., injury, fire, or structural damage).

Remember to follow the plan.