“Wait, was that an earthquake?” Chapman University's Plan for “The Big One” – The Tiger Newspaper

Whether you're a California native or spend just a few years in this seismically active state, you've probably thought about “the big quake” — the massive quake that Californians say is long overdue. But what if that happened? How prepared is Chapman University to keep its community safe in the face of such a disaster?

The Panther spoke to Megan Murphy, Chapman's former emergency manager since this fall, and asked her what the university's emergency response would look like in the first 24 hours after a major earthquake.

“In the event of a major earthquake, Public Safety will play a role in conducting what is called a windshield sweep. “They will walk around campus and get information about the physical damage to our various buildings,” Murphy explained. “If they see a building collapsing, they know it needs “It requires immediate attention and people inside are more likely to be injured than buildings that are completely intact.”

Murphy described that the next step was to establish an emergency operations center that would serve as a center for collecting and processing information about the disaster and the necessary emergency response.

“(The next step is) we're going to notify our community that we know we're working to get help or help for everyone. More information will be coming to let them know to follow up and then send out information as needed,” Murphy said. Some of the communications they'll use will be Chapman's Panther Alert System. and email notifications, which allow the university to send real-time updates as soon as possible.

The University's Multi-Hazard Emergency Response Plan is also updated every three years and is regularly tested to ensure its effectiveness. The goal of these tests is to “break” the plan and identify flaws or areas for improvement. Many departments at Chapman contribute to the development of these resources and actively participate in their implementation, such as conducting fire drills in dormitories or advising Chapman Parking Services on the best ways to get students out of a parking garage in the event of a major disaster. This plan extends beyond earthquake preparedness and covers a wide range of potential disasters, including fires, active shooter situations and regional power outages.

“Enterprise risk and safety management includes many departments: fire and life safety, emergency management, public safety, parking, and transportation,” Murphy explained. “They will work with other departments as necessary, such as strategic marketing communications, to either set up hotlines so that parent calls can be diverted to one place and not limit transmission. They can (also) work with Residential Life in case we need to rehouse some of our students who don't have friends Or families in the area.

But what if a disaster requires students to shelter in place? The Panther spoke with Juan Tinoco, assistant dean for the Office of Residential Life and First-Year Experience, who assured students that there are partnerships with the university to help provide assistance in such situations.

“There is a plan in place to distribute food, water and medical supplies. In the event of a long-term emergency, we have an established partnership with campus dining services with Sodexo to ensure access to these resources,” Tinoco explained.

It is clear based on established policies that the nature and severity of the disaster plays a critical role in shaping the university's emergency response. The type of disaster determines not only the resources deployed, but also the coordination between different departments, external partners and local authorities, ensuring that the response is tailored to the specific challenges posed.

“It all depends on the type of emergency. Let's say in the event of a power outage, your shelter would be the shelter in the room. But in the event of a bigger disaster, we have designated areas where we can shelter people,” Tinoco said. Public Safety and Emergency Health and Safety are some areas that might be safe to establish these long-term shelters for our students.”

Given the unpredictability of emergency events, Murphy and Tinoco stressed the importance of students taking responsibility for their safety. In the event of a major earthquake or natural disaster, the entire Orange County community could be affected, making it more difficult for local fire and emergency services to prioritize the Chapman Campus.

“When you talk about certain natural disasters, not all of them, but something like a big earthquake or a severe earthquake with a magnitude greater than 7.0 — because we're impacting the entire region with incidents. We find that we may have to be a little more flexible. There may be more,” Murphy explained. Of time before those outside agencies came.

Living in a country prone to various natural disasters highlights the importance of having your own emergency plan, as relying solely on institutional or local emergency services may not be sufficient during large-scale crises. Personal preparedness ensures that, even in resource-draining situations, you are equipped to deal with the immediate effects of a disaster. Chapman University offers a variety of emergency training events to educate the campus community on how to protect themselves in such situations, such as CPR courses, first aid courses, and fire extinguisher training.

“Educating our community is the best form of preparedness. If we can educate you, you can protect yourself. We are a campus community of 15,000 people on two campuses, and you can be anywhere when disaster strikes,” Murphy said.

In light of the constant threat of a flash earthquake, it is essential that you take the time to keep a few water bottles, some snacks like candy or granola bars, a first aid kit, and other essentials in your car, workplace, or home. This extra step of preparation can save valuable time in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

For more information about Chapman University's emergency preparedness plan and information about what to include in your emergency kit, visit the Chapman Emergency Resources website.

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