TO: Campus Community
FR: Missy Brunetta, Interim Senior Director for Risk Management, Emergency Services and Campus Safety Operations
Dear Campus Community,
As you may have experienced, there was a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, centered in northeast Santa Rosa, yesterday evening around 6:30 PM. Although the earthquake was felt on campus and in neighboring areas, the campus operations were not impacted, and no damage, leaks, or injuries were reported or observed. Nonetheless, your safety is a priority, and we would like to take this opportunity to remind all Seawolves of some actions you can take during and after an earthquake.
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE
“Drop, Cover, and Hold On” when you feel any shaking, or are alerted of an incoming earthquake.
- DROP to the ground;
- COVER your head and neck with your arms and seek additional shelter by getting under a sturdy desk or table IF one is nearby; and
- HOLD ON to your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stop; if you are not under a shelter, hold on to your head until the shaking stops.
If there is an earthquake while you are on campus, wait until the shaking stops and check the area around you.
AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
If you or someone around is injured, call 911 immediately.
If you see any hazards, such as a fire or building damage, or smell gas or any other chemical, call 911 and take appropriate action to protect you and those around you, if possible. If there are any hazards, evacuate the building if it is safe to do so. Evacuate or take other appropriate action if you feel unsafe at any time.
Appropriate staff will begin checking campus for hazards as soon as possible. If necessary, the emergency notification system, SSU Alert, may be used to order building evacuations or provide other safety information for you to follow.
Earthquake Information is available on the Emergency Services website, including resources on what to do when you are out and about such as driving or grocery shopping. We encourage you to review the information for your own personal safety and awareness.
The Earthquake Early Warning system is a system used to successfully alert subscribers prior to the start of shaking, with warning times varying based on distance from the epicenter. Ensure you know the differences in emergency alerts related to earthquakes by reviewing the California Early Earthquake Warning resources.
As a reminder, also check Emergency Services for procedures, resources, and tools to help you prepare and respond to emergencies. For any emergency-related questions, please do not hesitate to email our office at emergency@sonoma.edu.