It’s not everyday that students and staff at Los Medanos College are asked to “Drop, cover and hold on” in the middle of class, but next month, LMC will participate in a worldwide earthquake drill.

Practiced in many regions across the globe by over 17 million people, The Great ShakeOut will be coming to LMC Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m.

The Great ShakeOut is designed to bring awareness on ways to prepare, survive and recover in the case of an earthquake or other unforeseen disasters. TGSO originated in Southern California in 2008 as a means to educate the public on earthquake safety, and today more than 20 regions worldwide participate every year.

Starting last year, all colleges within the East Contra Costa Community College District have been asked to participate in TGSO.

The ShakeOut will include the conducting of drills, the identification of evacuation routes and the updating of emergency plans. Many safety committees and police services will be present during the ShakeOut to help people become involved and have fun while learning about earthquake preparedness.

Director of Risk Management, Herb Lester believes that TGSO will provide a good teaching moment for many people who are not knowledgeable with earth quake safety.

“This provides a great opportunity for many businesses and organizations to assess their levels of readiness in the event of an earthquake or other unforeseen disaster,” said Lester, adding that his “hope is that TGSO 2017 participants come away with a better understanding of how important it is to be prepared for an unforeseen disaster.”

Lester has a goal is to create a culture of safety throughout the district and to increase participation in the event in order to provide a great opportunity for public safety.

“I believe it will serve as a great resource that informs the public on what to do in order to survive and recover from the devastating effects of an earthquake.”