When earthquakes hit, there are people who don’t know what to do.
Some run, hide, and others do nothing.
At 10:16 a.m. today, 9.6 million people in California participated in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. The CSUN community joined in by hosting a Preparedness Fair near the Oviatt Library lawn.
At the Preparedness Fair, students and geography teachers gathered to show the do’s and don’ts during an earthquake.
During the fair, posters were made, giving tips on how to handle earthquakes, computers were set up so students could see the faults closest to them, and displays were displayed showing the effects of an earthquake.
Professors recommend that students be prepared if an earthquake is to take place while they are at home.
A safety kit is one of the best ways to prepare for an earthquake. Kits should include cash, food bars, a knife, ID, flashlight, first aid kit, water packs, keys and a radio.
The Preparedness Fair has one motto — “Shakeout, Don’t Freak Out!”
Experts say too many people don’t know what to do while an earthquake is happening. Instead of taking cover, many panic and make the biggest mistake they can — they run.
Geography teachers all agreed that no matter where one is during an earthquake, they should stop what they are doing, drop to the ground, and take cover.
Geography professor Doug Yule says running is not the smartest thing to do during an earthquake.
People get injured if they try to run during strong shaking,” he said.
Students who attended the fair were excited to learn ways in which they can be safe.
One student, who thought that the event was beneficial, is geography major Eduardo Macias.
“More people should attend, because an earthquake is really dangerous,” he said. “An earthquake can destabilize the earth and many people don’t realize that. You have to know what to do and what not to do.”
While students dropped to the ground at 10:16, many were glad to know that they were taking the necessary steps to protect themselves.
Undeclared major Emily Myers says that being prepared is essential.
“For your family to remain safe you should make a plan, text not call, and have a kit ready,” she said.
While not all people know how dangerous earthquakes really are, the ShakeOut Drill helps people prepare for the unexpected. Instead of being in a panic mode, people can know what to do in a calm, steady manner.
“People can be prepared to be self-sufficient after the earthquake hits,” said Yule.
