How Organizations Can Participate

• Encourage your employees to register as individuals to participate in the ShakeOut.


• Post posters about ShakeOut in customer areas and on employee bulletin boards. Put ShakeOut flyers at your public counters. Include a flyer in paycheck envelopes, or an article in your newsletter.


• Tell employees 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.


• Organize a brown bag lunch with your employees to share personal and family preparedness information and discuss what individuals and their families can do to ShakeOut. Have everyone register while at the lunch.


• 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!


• Encourage your vendors to register and participate in the ShakeOut. Their preparedness affects your company’s preparedness.


• 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 business to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more.


• Between now and 18 September:   Consider what may happen in a major earthquake and plan what your organization will do now to prepare, so that when it happens you will be able to recover quickly. Talk to other organizations about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in getting more prepared.


• 18 September, 10:10 a.m.:
1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On:   Have your employees 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 your employees 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 you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on you 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, practice what your organization will do after the shaking stops.

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

The 7 Steps to an Earthquake Resilient Business booklet provides detailed instructions for what any size business or organization can do to get prepare.

Also, Get Ready Get Thru has lots of information about preparing yourself and your family for a major natural disaster.

• Encourage your employees to get ready at home and at work: 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.


• Identify hazards and special needs in each department.


• Develop, review or exercise your business continuity plan with employees to identify and practice their responsibilities.
  • Create or review your employee contact lists and communication plan.
  • Locate utility shut off valves; make sure employees 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 employees.
  • 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 employees know the location and how to utilize supplies.


• Be prepared for the possibility that your employees 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 employees or customers 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. The Earthquake Commission deals with claims relating to natural hazards and has information about insurance needs.