MEDIA ADVISORY: Media Invited to USC’s Full-Scale Great ShakeOut Drill
Drill participants on campus simulating rescues, triage, and recovery from a major earthquake
Contact: Robert Perkins at (213) 740-9226 or perkinsr@usc.edu
WHAT: Join USC as the university drops, covers, and holds — and then simulates the aftermath and recovery from a major earthquake — joining 21.5 million people worldwide in observing the eighth annual Great ShakeOut.
USC is the home of the Southern California Earthquake Center, the Earthquake Country Alliance and the ShakeOut drill. The university observes the ShakeOut every year, but this year will be hosting a “dress rehearsal” of disaster response to provide participants with practice under realistic conditions.
Visuals and resources:
– Earthquake and preparedness experts available throughout the morning for one-on-one interviews.
– USC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members will practice rescue operations.
– Volunteers in makeup will simulate triages
– Earthquake simulator truck will be available for demos on Watt Way.
– Local government officials will attend, offering insight into how local communities are preparing for disasters.
– Helicopter visuals will be available. Seen from above, Cromwell Field will have large green, yellow and red tarps to demarcate triage stations.
– Spanish-speaking experts will be available.
– American Sign Language specialists and those who can accommodate questions about people with disabilities or other access/functional needs will be available.
WHO:
– Michael Quick, USC provost
– Mark Benthien, associate director of SCEC and Global ShakeOut Coordinator
– Thomas Jordan, professor of Earth Sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; and director of (SCEC)
– David Carlisle, deputy chief of the USC Department of Public Safety
– James Featherstone, general manager of the City of Los Angeles Department of Emergency Management
– Mona Bontty, southern regional administrator for the California Office of Emergency Services
– Chris Nance, California Earthquake Authority
TIMELINE OF EVENTS:
Media are asked to check in upon arrival
4 to 8 a.m. — Earthquake and preparedness experts will be available for one-on-one interviews. Camera crews invited to set up. Big Shaker earthquake simulator and other visuals/exhibits available.
7:45 to 8:15 a.m. — Actors portraying injured people to receive makeup and instructions outside of Bing Theater
8:15 a.m. — Press conference at Lazzaro Plaza
9 a.m. — Three Search And Rescue (SAR) teams will assemble at Cromwell Field
9 to 10 a.m. — The three SAR teams will conduct mock rescues outside of Heritage Hall; in the West Lobby of the Annenberg Building; and on Sound Stage 3 at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. (Please note: the media entrance to the Annenberg Building is via the west wing, and media are asked not to enter the Cinematic Arts building.)
9 to 10:30 a.m. — SAR teams will transport the actors portraying injured people to Cromwell Field to be triaged and treated. Space is available in the bleachers for camera crews. Reporters and camera crews will be escorted down to the field in small groups.
10:20 a.m. — USC CERT team members simulate a rescue operation, lifting a heavy piece of debris off of a mannequin using “cribbing” on Watt Way at Childs Way.
PARKING: Please RSVP to Robert Perkins at (213) 740-9226 or perkinsr@usc.edu to ensure reserved parking.
All media vehicles should enter campus via Gate 1, off of Exposition Boulevard at Watt Way.
News vans will be invited to park along Child’s Way, along the south side of Cromwell Field. (See “news van entrance” on the map.)
Print reporters will be invited to park in Parking Structure A.
