Richmond, Va. –
Dozens of employees across Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, joined millions of people worldwide, at 10:17 a.m. Oct. 17 when they participated in The Great ShakeOut.
The Great ShakeOut, the world’s largest earthquake drill, gave William Bullock, Sr., installation emergency manager, Security and Emergency Services, Defense Logistics Agency Installation Management Richmond, an opportunity to ensure center personnel were trained, rehearsed and discussed how to protect themselves during earthquakes.
Bullock said the purpose of the drill was to validate the preparedness and responses of center personnel.
“We wanted to check the flow of information,” he said.
Bullock said individuals often try to leave a building when an earthquake starts, which he advises against.
“If you are inside when an earthquake starts, research has shown it is safer to remain inside as most injuries occur when people move to different locations inside the building or try to leave,” he said.
This year’s shakeout theme is Drop (to the ground), Cover (by getting under a sturdy table or another piece of furniture) and Hold On (until the shaking stops) and addresses actions people should take inside a building.
If individuals are already outside, Bullock urges them to move into the open, away from buildings, exits and exterior walls near which the most significant danger exists from collapsing walls, flying glass and falling objects.
Bullock provided external organizational evaluators in key locations on center during the drill who spoke with employees to confirm that they knew what to do in the event of an earthquake while on center.
“Results of the exercise will be revealed during an upcoming after-action review,” said Bullock. “Overall most employees and especially children in the CDC were aware of and/or executed proper actions when the drill occurred.”
DLA and tenant employees are urged to review their organization’s Occupant Emergency Plan, and review documents related to earthquakes found on the DSCR Employee Emergency Preparedness intranet/sharepoint website.