On October 17, 2013, millions of people around the globe will participate in the Great ShakeOut, the world’s largest annual earthquake drill.
The goal of the ShakeOut is to provide businesses, organizations, communities and families the opportunity to review their earthquake preparedness and response plans to prevent an earthquake from becoming a catastrophe.
To help ensure commercial real estate properties are prepared for the Great ShakeOut, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International has issued a list of essential tips for earthquake preparedness that property professionals can share with tenants and personnel in conjunction with an earthquake drill:
- · If indoors in the event of an earthquake, stay there. Take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture or counter, or brace yourself against an inside corner. Protect your head, face and neck.
- · If outdoors, move into the open, away from buildings, streetlights and utility wires.
- · After an earthquake, stay away from windows, skylights and items that could fall. Do not use the elevators.
- · Designate an area in your office space away from exterior walls and windows where occupants should gather after an earthquake if an evacuation is not necessary.
- · Use stairways to leave the building if it is determined that a building evacuation is necessary.
- · If damage or injury has occurred, the proper authorities should be notified.
Property professionals can find more in-depth information about what to do before, during and after an earthquake and other disasters in BOMA International’s Emergency Preparedness Guidebook, available via BOMA’s Online Bookstore at store.boma.org.
