April is Earthquake Awareness Month and you can do your part, along with the entire state, to prepare for “the big one” by planning to “Drop, Cover and Hold on” this Thursday, April 18, at 10:15 a.m.

Research has shown that taking immediate protective action in an earthquake is the best way to survive, though many of us haven’t actually practiced what to do. If you practice dropping to the ground (getting under a desk or other protective element), covering your head and holding on, you’ll think through what that means in different environments and build muscle memory for a real earthquake. Remember, it’s not the shaking of the ground that causes death or injury, it’s the objects that are falling that will be most dangerous.

You’ll receive a campus alert text message and email at 10:15 a.m., letting you know it’s time to “Drop, Cover and Hold on.” A follow-up “all clear” alert will be sent at 10:30 a.m. with a short survey and a chance to win $25 on your UCard.

Make sure you get text emergency alerts from the university: In CIS, click on “Campus Alert Settings” in the Campus Alert tile and double-check your phone number settings. When an emergency or disaster happens on campus, you will get important safety information and protective actions through the Campus Alert system.

There are also steps you can take right now to be better prepared that don’t take up a lot of room.

• If you are a student, then think of the numbers 16 and 12. You should have 16 ounces of water and 1,200 calories of protein with you at all times while you are on campus. If there is an emergency and you have to shelter in place, you’ll have food and water to keep you going. Other essentials for your preparedness kit might include a list of important contact information, necessary medications, a whistle or a backup battery for your cellphone. Click here for more info.
• If you are faculty or staff, make sure you have an emergency disaster kit at your workspace. Find more info here.
• Learn more about the “Big 3” protective actions you can take in just about any emergency.
• Download the U Heads Up! app for emergency plans (both Health Sciences and main campus) with quick reference guides. Follow the installation guide here.

For hospital and health sciences: Because of the patient care aspect of your studies or work, the hospital and health sciences emergency management team have been careful to construct an exercise that works best for you. If you are a staff member or student within the Health Science campus involved in health care, research or medical academics then consult pulse.utah.edu for instructions on your ShakeOut participation.