“It takes an earthquake to remind us that we walk on the crust of an unfinished planet”– Charles Kuralt
Earthquakes can strike without warning. So taking small steps now to prepare can help reduce injuries and make living in the immediate aftermath a bit easier (this applies to any natural disaster). Aside from learning the basics on what to do during the event—drop to the ground, cover your head, and hold on.
The students and employees were enjoined to participate in the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) scheduled last September 7, 2023, at two o’clock in the afternoon. The School of Business Administration and Accountancy (SBAA) also performed their contribution in making themselves safe and well-prepared.
This was considered to prepare the students and employees to remain calm and perform the ‘duck, cover, and hold’ during a quake. It also encourages everyone to familiarize themselves with emergency response actions to lessen the effects and avoid any serious casualties.
University of Baguio strives to educate employees and students on earthquake preparedness, in addition to recording, prioritizing, and improving its facilities’ seismic performance to protect lives and prevent injuries in the event of an earthquake. The safety of students is the top priority of the institution. The University prepares our school for earthquakes through structural and non-structural mitigation, training, drills, supplies, and partnerships. Through this practice, the University promotes proper well-being during an earthquake (SDG3) and a strong camaraderie to build the community in times of need (SDG 16).
According to Austria (2023) of the Philippine Information Center, in case of an earthquake scenario, follow these safety tips:
- Once you start to feel the shake, check your environment and stay away from shelves or anything that may fall or glass that may shutter;
- Duck under a sturdy table, cover your head, and hold until the shake stops; and
- Once it is safe to go out, grab your GO Bags, wear a hard hat or protective gear to cover your head from falling debris, and evacuate to a safe place.
The conduct of earthquake drills in the University is one of the efforts of the institution to promote disaster preparedness and resilience among communities.
It pays to be prepared and the University of Baguio is doing its best to inform and equip UBians to survive natural hazards.
