Earthquake

EMERGENCIES - EARTHQUAKE

OVERVIEW

This procedure addresses earthquake preparedness and procedures for staff, employees, and students to use during and after an earthquake.

FORMS USED

None

CODES, REGULATIONS, AND DISTRICT POLICIES RELATED TO THIS PROCEDURE

Governing Board Policy #804, Civil Defense and Disaster Preparedness

PRIMARY STAKEHOLDERS

The Department of Public Safety, Risk Management, Evening Division/Night Administrator

COMMENTS

Because of San Diego's proximity to several significant faults, including the Rose Canyon Fault line, staff and employees must be aware of the guidelines to be followed in the event of an earthquake. This procedure addresses fundamental earthquake response procedures that staff, employees, and students should be aware of prior to the event of an earthquake.

Staff Readiness/Preparation for Earthquakes

STEP

TASK PERFORMED BY

DESCRIPTION

1	Maintenance and Operations	Maintain Earthquake Preparedness In the course of normal operations: Be aware of the location of electrical main switches and gas valves that exist in assigned areas and know how to turn off these utilities. Ensure that large and/or heavy objects are stored on lower shelves to prevent injury from falling during an earthquake. Ensure that bottled goods, glass, and chemicals are not stored in high places or left where they can freely slide on shelves, and that chemicals are not stored near places of potential ignition.
2	All Employees and Students	Maintain Earthquake Preparedness Be aware at all times for potential fire risks. Defective electrical wiring and/or leaky gas connections are very dangerous in the event of an earthquake and should be reported to Maintenance immediately. If there is an immediate safety hazard, report the problem to Risk Management as well. Store large and/or heavy objects on lower shelves to prevent injury from falling during a quake. Store bottled goods, glass, and chemicals in low places, where they will not slide on shelves, or away from places of potential ignition.

3	Risk Management	Assess Earthquake Preparedness Conduct routine and constant area assessments specifically for earthquake risk reduction. Provide ongoing training to staff regarding earthquake plans. Maintain Earthquake Preparedness kits. Conduct biannual inventories of the kits and replace expired or missing items as required. Ensure that appropriate administrators and Operations employees are informed of kit locations and provided with keys. Along with the Committee and with the help of all Departments, continue to develop the District Emergency Preparedness Plan.

4	Child Development Center, Extended Studies, and College for Kids	Obtain Emergency Information for Minors Obtain emergency information sheets for each child from the parent/guardian. Maintain the information sheets in the program office and in separate class binders. In the event of an emergency, the class binders will serve as a primary mechanism for obtaining emergency care, services, and pick-up for the children. Provide written data sheets to parents/guardians which designate emergency pick-up areas and emergency phone numbers.

During An Earthquake:

STEP

TASK PERFORMED BY

DESCRIPTION

All Employees and Students

Use Earthquake Survival Techniques

If inside a building, take cover under a heavy desk, table, bench, doorway, hall, or against inside walls. Stay away from glass.

If outside the building, move away from the structure and utility wires. The greatest danger from falling debris is just outside doorways and close to outer walls. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops.

Don't use candles, matches, or other open flames either during or after the tremor because of possible gas leaks.

After the Earthquake:

STEP	TASK PERFORMED BY	DESCRIPTION
1	Faculty, Staff and Students	Assess Surroundings Check for injuries. Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Check for environmental dangers such as leaking gas, chemical spills, fire, or downed wires. Turn on a radio to get the latest emergency bulletins and instructions from local authorities. Do not eat or drink anything from open containers near shattered glass. Be prepared for additional earthquake shocks. although most aftershocks are smaller than the main shock, some may be large enough to cause additional damage.

2	Faculty, Staff and Students	Contact Public Safety For all emergency situations including serious injury, detection of gas odors, chemical spills, downed electrical lines, or fire, evacuate the building and notify Public Safety. Dept. of Public Safety (open 24 hours) Grossmont: Ext. 7654 Cuyamaca: Ext. 4456 "#1" from Speed Dial public phones

3	Maintenance and Operations	Check Utilities Check all assigned areas for gas leakage, electrical wiring shorts, or downed wires. If the odor of gas is detected, shut off the main gas valve and open windows and exterior doors. Clear the facility and report the leakage to the Department of Public Safety. If the phones are down, go to a public pay phone equipped with speed dialing and dial "#1" or 465-0751. Do not re-enter until a utility official says it is safe to do so. If electrical wiring is shorting out or if wires are down, shut off current at the main box. Contact the Department of Public Safety. If the phones are down, go to a public pay phone equipped with speed dialing and dial "#1" or 465-0751. do not re-enter until a utility official say sit is safe to do so. Check the facility for structural damage and evacuate the facility if significant damage is detected.

4	Operations, Appropriate Administrators	Open Earthquake Kits Open emergency earthquake kits on an as-needed basis.

5	Department of Public Safety	Coordinate Area Security Dispatch Security Officers. confer with night or daytime administrators to determine which areas, if any, should be cleared, locked, closed, or kept open. Ensure that all necessary communications occur between the site and District Line of Authority, Public Information, Risk Management, and Student Affairs. Coordinate as necessary with the appropriate Police and Fire Departments, and emergency medical providers.

6	Health Services	Provide Emergency First Aid Services

7	Risk Management	Coordinate Hazardous Materials Clean-up

8	Director/Supervisor of Maintenance	Notify Appropriate Administrators Notify the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor-Business, College Presidents, College Business Officers, and the senior Administrator present of all utility outages and the expected time of repair as soon as there is a determination.

9	Chancellor or College President	Make Closing/Evacuation Decision Based upon information provided, determine what areas should be closed. direct available Operations and Security personnel to close specified facilities.

10	Operations/Security Officers	Secure Damaged or Closed Areas Close, lock, and clear any of the following facilities that are damaged, closed or are critical areas that need to be locked: Admissions and Records Computer Labs Cafe 200 (Grossmont) Coyote's Den (Cuyamaca) Student Center Bookstore Library Classrooms Communications Service areas (Switchboard, Mailroom, Administration Building)
11	Faculty, Staff and Students	Evacuate if Ordered All persons on site must immediately leave the area upon receipt of an evacuation order from the Department of Public Safety, the senior Administrator present, the El Cajon Police Department or San Diego County Sheriff, or the El Cajon or San Miguel Fire Departments. Failure to leave the area when ordered could lead to arrest.

12	Public Information	Coordinate Press Communications Field media calls. Prepare and follow-up with press releases or fact sheets as necessary. Provide necessary facts or information to media or to designated District spokesperson.

13	Chancellor	Open facilities for Disaster Recovery Open appropriate GCCCD facilities as required in order to provide shelter and/or food services for students or the community such as gyms, food services, and the student centers.

14	Public Safety	Provide Continued Security Provide security coverage to facilities that are opened for students or the pubic in the disaster recovery phase.