Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m.

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MEMORANDUM

To: Academic Deans, Department Chairs, & USC Faculty

From: Office of the Provost

Date: October 12, 2026

Safety and emergency preparedness are a top priority for the university. Each year, USC takes part in the Great ShakeOut, an international earthquake drill, as part of our extensive emergency management program. All faculty are encouraged to participate in this year’s Great ShakeOut on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m.

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are organized internationally by the Statewide California Earthquake Center headquartered here at USC. More than 75 million people are practicing earthquake safety worldwide in 2026.

During the drill, USC will test its All-Hazards Emergency Response Operations Plan that includes communications, damage assessment and other essential functions.
All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to “drop, cover and hold on” at 10:15 a.m. as part of this year’s drill. 

Guidance for Course and Lab Instructors

Many students, particularly those from out of state, are not familiar with basic earthquake safety, and faculty have a powerful voice in shaping student awareness. If you are with students at the time of the exercise, please share the below talking points with them, and then “drop, cover and hold on” for 30 seconds. 

If you do not have a class during the drill, you are encouraged to conduct this exercise on an alternate day with your students. This drill can also be done with online classes.

Additional Resources

Each school has developed a disaster plan for response and recovery following a major emergency. Emergency plans are updated annually to ensure the safety and well-being of the campus community, and building-specific information can be found on the USC Building Emergency Fact Sheets. For more information, please contact Steve Goldfarb in the Office of Fire Safety & Emergency Planning at sgoldfar@usc.edu.

Thank you for helping us keep our campus and community safe.

​​​​​​Talking Points for Course and Lab Instructors 

On Thursday, October 15, at 10:15 a.m., please read the following notice to your class.

At 10:15 a.m. today, USC’s students, faculty and staff are taking part in the largest earthquake drill in history. The event is based on a magnitude 7.8 earthquake forecast for the San Andreas Fault.

At 10:15 a.m., we are going to take a moment to practice the earthquake safety procedure, which is to DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON. In a big earthquake, the main hazard will be falling objects such as bookcases, light fixtures, equipment or other heavy items.

The safest thing to do during the earthquake is to drop down, get under a desk or table, and hold on until the earthquake stops. Do not panic and run. There is no need to get in a doorway. In a hallway, just move away from windows and drop down near an interior wall, protecting the back of your head and neck.

Let us take a moment to practice – everybody drop, cover and hold on for 30 seconds. Be sure to drop, cover and hold on the moment you feel the initial jolt of the earthquake starting. Do not wait until the quake gets stronger. If you follow this procedure, you will minimize your risk of injury in a major earthquake.

Additional Announcement

  • When the earthquake stops, check on each other to make sure no one is injured. 
  • Injuries and hazards should be reported to DPS via the LiveSafe App, or by calling 213-740-4321 at UPC or 323-442-1000 at HSC.
  • After an earthquake, use stairs instead of elevators. 
  • Campus emergency teams will provide direction on what to do next, and emergency services will be established as needed by USC.
  • After a major earthquake, USC information can be obtained at emergency.usc.edu.
  • It is recommended to maintain an emergency kit with a flashlight, batteries, an AM/FM radio, a little food and water and a small amount of first aid supplies in your home and office. The USC vendor for supplies and kits is www.sosproducts.com.
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