On October 20, 2022, practice how to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON at 10:20 a.m. during the annual Great BC ShakeOut. Tour UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF), and in the evening, attend the SAN ANDREAS movie screening complete with live scientific commentary from Natural Resources Canada Seismologist, Alison Bird. All events are free and open to the public.
The Great BC ShakeOut is an annual province-wide earthquake drill for everyone to practice how to protect themselves and to be better prepared in the event of an earthquake: DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!), take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and HOLD on to it until the shaking stops.
We all have a role in protecting ourselves and making our campus safe. Participate in an event and learn more!
- Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold on!
- UBC Alert: Update your contact information
- Tour UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facilities: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Attend the San Andreas movie screening with Seismologist Alison Bird: 7:00-9:15 p.m.
Share your best ‘Drop, Cover and Hold on’ and tag @ubc on Twitter and @universityofbc on Instagram!
PRACTICE DROP, COVER, HOLD ON!
Before the drill
Download a drill recording with realistic sound effects from ShakOutBC.
During the drill
- On October 20, 2022 at 10:20 a.m. announce the start of the drill and play the downloaded recording.
- Direct participants to ‘Drop, Cover and Hold On’.
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- Encourage participants to count out loud for the duration of the simulated earthquake. This will help keep them focused and calm, as well as provide an indication of how long shaking can last.
- When the shaking portion of the drill stops, ask participants to stay in place and count to 60, giving displaced objects a chance to settle.
- They should also look around and assess what might fall on them during a real earthquake. These objects can be secured after the drill.
- Take some photos to share and demonstrate that your group participated in the drill.
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- After the 60-second count, announce the drill is over and that everyone can stand up.
After the drill
- Encourage participants to discuss their experiences.
- Share photos of your best ‘Drop, Cover and Hold on’ and stories of your drill on social media. Tag @ubc on Twitter and @universityofbc on Instagram, and @ShakeOutBC.
- Discuss the importance of personal emergency preparedness. For more resources, visit the PreparedBC website.
Tips for campus locations
- Classroom/Office: ‘Drop, Cover, Hold On’ under your desk or workstation.
- Lecture Theatre: Drop to the ground between rows. Protect your head and neck with your arms, and bend over as far as possible.
- Laboratory: “Drop, Cover, Hold On” under the work bench or at the end of the bench.
- Library: ‘Drop, Cover, Hold On’ under a desk or table. Drop to the ground; move carefully to the end of the stack. If possible, ‘Drop, Cover, Hold On’ under a desk or table.
Learn more about how to stay safe before, during, and after an earthquake
UBC Alert: UBC will be testing its emergency notification system
As part of ShakeOut, UBC will be testing its emergency notification system, UBC Alert.
UBC Alert is used in active and urgent situations that require your immediate attention to maintain safety and security on campus. If you are registered for UBC Alert, students, faculty and staff will receive a test notification by text and voice message on October 20, 2022. The test will also run on our campus-wide digital signage systems.
Reminder to:
- Update your contact information on Workday (for faculty and staff) and Student Service Centre (for students) to ensure you receive the latest information in urgent situations through UBC Alert.
- Download the UBC Safe Vancouver app for direct access to campus safety resources, and turn on push notifications to receive timely alerts and notifications.
Tour UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility
UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF) will open its doors to the public for a tour of their facility. No registration necessary.
EERF is a unique and purpose-built lab where internationally renowned UBC researchers study the behaviour of structures during earthquakes using specially designed, digitally operated and hydraulic powered “shake tables” that precisely replicate forces experienced during seismic events.
Researchers at EERF build sets of typical home or office furniture layouts, complete with walls, then literally shake them to see what happens when an earthquake hits. The resulting destruction provides them with crucial data that can make buildings and homes safer.
Date: October 20, 2022
Time: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Location: Earthquake Engineering Research Facility (EERF), 2235 East Mall [map]
Demo frequency: ~30min for a total of 3-4 demos.
Attend the San Andreas movie screening
Join Natural Resources Canada Seismologist, Alison Bird for the screening of the Hollywood movie San Andreas on October 20, at 7:00 p.m. Alison will be providing live scientific commentary through the screening of the San Andreas, and use the film as a discussion piece— comparing the inaccuracy of the Hollywood movie with realistic seismic impacts.
Alison Bird has been working as an Earthquake Seismologist with Natural Resources Canada since 2000. For 20 years, she analyzed and researched western Canada’s earthquakes and visited Haida Gwaii as part of a response team after the 2012 magnitude 7.8 earthquake. In recent years, Alison was part of a team developing a comprehensive risk assessment for Canada. Alison routinely responds in the wake of significant events (having given roughly 900 interviews).
Arrive early to secure some snacks and learn about personal emergency preparedness. This event is open to the public.
Registration: FREE (Click here to register for the event)
Movie: San Andreas (PG13)
Date: October 20, 2022
Time: 7:00-9:15 p.m.
Location: Forest Sciences Centre (FSC), Room 1005 [map]
Accessibility: Front of room and backstage area can be accessed via a nearby elevator. For additional accessibility concerns, please email ready.ubc@ubc.ca.
Parking: Paid parking is available in B4 Lot – 6365 Agronomy Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4.
Additional parking can be found in C2 Lot and Thunderbird Parkade. Find more parking
We all have a role to play in an emergency
As part of the UBC community, we all have a role to play in an emergency. We want you to Be Prepared and Take Action so you, your loved ones, and our community are better prepared for emergencies. To learn more about how to stay safe before, during, and after an earthquake, visit ‘Take Action > Earthquakes’.
Don’t forget to download the UBC Safe Vancouver app for direct access to campus safety resources, and turn on push notifications to receive timely alerts and notifications.