Today:

• Register your medical facility to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more.

Between now and April 17:

• 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.


• Talk to other medical centers about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in getting more prepared.



• Plan your drill using one of the four levels of sample drills in the ShakeOut Drill Manual for Non Profits and Other Organizations (PDF). These provide guidance for earthquake-specific drills: as a medical facility you likely have more comprehensive drill plans that you can use, but for ShakeOut, be sure to include a "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" element for all employees.


• Download Audio and Video "Drill Broadcast" recordings that have been created in English and Spanish to provide instructions during your drill (Video versions have text captions).

April 17, 10:15 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, in addition to other plans particular to your facility that you may want to exercise:


1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Have your staff   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 staff will immediately protect themselves during earthquakes! (See this page for what to do if outside, driving, in a tall building, or other situations.) For people with disabilities or access and functional needs, download our preparedness guide (661 KB) PDF.
   
   
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 you do before the actual earthquake happens to reduce losses and quickly recover?
   
   
3. (Optional) Practice what your staff will do after the shaking stops.


• After your drill is complete, have discussions about what was learned and incorporate these lessons into your disaster plan.

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

• Have each department do a facility inspection for non-structural items 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.)
  • Include your critical need vendors in disaster planning. Create post-disaster agreements.
  • The DRB Toolkit interactive software application is designed to assist small to midsize orgnizations build a comprehensive disaster plan and continuity program. Organizations receive a 50% discount code for the software when they register for the ShakeOut.


• 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?


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

• Encourage your employees to register as individuals or families.


• Display ShakeOut posters 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.


• 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 brown bag, especially those without internet access.


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