Indiana leads midwest in earthquake preparedness

Opinions at Indiana State University are divided about the level of campus preparedness and awareness regarding earthquakes.

Indiana is leading the Midwest in preparing citizens for earthquakes according to the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium. On Tuesday, Indiana had over 500,000 participants in the "Great Central United States Shakeout," a day where schools and independent groups practice earthquake awareness and drills.

Chief of public safety Bill Mercier said that in the case of an earthquake, their first priority is to inform the public. Through the use of the siren, the mass texting system, the e-mailing program and broadcasting through ISU's TV station, public safety is able to reach a large portion of the students instantly in the case of an emergency.  

"The most important thing for anyone to do in the case of an earthquake is to get out of the building once the earthquake has taken place and get to the designated safe spot," Mercier said.

Sophomore biology major and Resident Assistant (RA) for Pickerl Hall Josh Downey said that Residential Life staff is briefly trained on the standard procedures during the case of an earthquake.

"During our training for this position we go over what to do in the case of an earthquake, but during my time at Pickerl [Hall] we have not conducted any formal training drills the way we do in the case of a fire," Downey said.

Downey said he would feel secure if an earthquake strikes while at a newly renovated hall. However, he would be weary if he were living in any of the older taller structures such as the towers, Hines Hall and Jones Hall.

Freshman criminology major Jake Byers said that as a resident of Blumberg Hall, his RA has never gone over the earthquake procedure.

"In the lobby there's a sign, but it has never been formally addressed," Byers said.

Due to lack of proper training, RAs haven't had to conduct earthquake drills despite the great height and old age of the buildings, Byers said.

Junior exercise science major Shilah Kumaran, who has lived in both Hines Hall and the Lincoln Quads, said that she has never been instructed on what to do in the case of an earthquake, but she is familiar with the procedures associated with a tornado and fire drill because of Residential Life.

"If there was an earthquake, I would freak out because of the lack of preparation," Kumaran said.

The ISU Emergency Preparedness/Response Plan states that if indoors during an earthquake the victim should first seek shelter under a desk or a table. The handbook also states to remember to stay away from glass windows, shelves, and heavy equipment and to stay away from large open spaces such as an auditorium.  The handbook can be found online through ISU's main website.