How Faith-Based Organizations Can Participate

• Invite your staff and congregation to register as individuals to participate in the ShakeOut.


• Display posters about ShakeOut in public areas and on staff bulletin boards. Distribute ShakeOut flyers at services and other events. Include a flyer in paycheck envelopes, or an article in your newsletter.


• Tell everyone to watch "Preparedness Now", a compelling film that depicts what will happen in a "big one," and other videos.


• Add a link to ShakeOut.org on your website; use one of several ShakeOut web banners.


• Hold a meeting among your congregation and share personal and family preparedness information and discuss what individuals and their families can do to ShakeOut. Have everyone register while at the meeting, especially those without internet access.


• Once your organization is registered, you will receive ShakeOut preparedness tips, event updates, and more. Forward these to your membership and ask them to register, and forward the e-mails to everyone who matters to them. With your help this can become the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history!


• Design and host preparedness events to encourage your community to join the ShakeOut and prepare for disasters. Create alliances with other organizations to make the event a bigger success.

• Today:   Register your organization to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more.


• Between now and October 21:
  • Consider what may happen in a major earthquake and plan what your organization will do now to get prepared, so that when it happens you will be able to recover quickly.
  
  • Plan your drill using one of the four levels of sample drills in the ShakeOut Drill Manual for Non Profits and Other Organizations (168 KB PDF).
  • Secure Your Space:   As a special theme for the 2010 ShakeOut, we encourage all Californians to reduce potential damage and injuries by strapping furniture and large appliances to walls, securing TVs and electronics, applying quake putty to small items, and more.
  • Download the Audio and Video "Drill Broadcast" recordings that have been created to provide instructions during your drill (Video versions have text captions).
  • Talk to other places of worship about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in getting more prepared.


• October 21, 10:21 a.m.: Conduct your drill. If you did not choose a drill from the ShakeOut Drill Manual for Non Profits and Other Organizations, then follow these simple steps:
  
  

1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Have your staff and others present  Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds). Practice now so they will immediately protect themselves during earthquakes! (See this page for what to do if outside, driving, in a tall building, or other situations. See this page for what to do if you have a disability or an activity limitation.)
   
   
2. While still under the table, or wherever they are, have them look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on them or others? What would be damaged? What would life be like after? What will your organization do before the actual earthquake happens to reduce losses and quickly recover?
   
   
3. Finally, your organization can practice what your staff and congregation will do after the shaking stops.

What we do now, before the earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like after.

• Encourage your staff and congregation to get ready: The Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety is a good source for things individuals and families can do to prepare.


• Do a facility inspection for non-structural items (bookshelves, equipment, etc.) that might fall and be damaged or cause injury and secure them.


• If your organization does not have a specific mission for disaster response, discuss what role is likely to emerge for your organization and begin to plan and create alliances to meet the mission of that role. If your organization has a specific mission for disaster response activities, review and drill your plan.


• Develop, review or exercise your business continuity plan with staff to identify and practice their responsibilities.
  • Create or review your staff contact lists and communication plan.
  • Locate utility shut off valves; make sure staff know the location, procedure and responsibilities.
  • Inventory special skills within your organization useful in a disaster (amateur radio operator, search and rescue, etc.)
  • Invite your local Fire Department to your next meeting to explain earthquake safety practices and demonstrate fire extinguisher use to staff.
  • Include your critical need vendors in disaster planning. Create post-disaster agreements.


• Organize or refresh your emergency equipment - fire extinguishers, first aid, flashlights, food, crank radios, satellite phones, generator, fuel; make sure staff know the location and how to utilize supplies.


• Be prepared for the possibility that your staff may need to shelter in place for 2 – 3 days.
  • Store at least one gallon of water per person, per day.
  • What other supplies might you need if transportation routes were blocked and staff or visitors needed to remain in your facility for an extended length of time?
• Identify any structural weaknesses in your building: ask a local earthquake retrofitting contractor for a structural inspection, and develop a plan to address any issues. If you rent your facility, ask the building owner about the state of the building. Consider whether earthquake insurance is right for you.


• Learn to access and use California Integrated Seismic Network earthquake tools. CISN identifies the strength and location of earthquakes to assist you in making response decisions.


• Promote first responder and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training for your staff.


• Provide non-English speaking staff or people in your community with written preparedness information in their language.