According to the World Health Organization, more than 125 million people were affected by earthquakes from 1998 to 2017. During that time, earthquakes caused nearly 750,000 deaths globally, which is more than half of all deaths related to natural disasters. Earthquakes can strike at any time and without any warning.
An earthquake occurs when two blocks of the earth (called tectonic plates) rapidly slip past one another, which causes ground shaking. This can result in collapsed buildings, landslides in mountainous regions, and injuries. Earthquakes are dangerous because they can happen with little to no warning. Because earthquakes are unpredictable, it is important to have an emergency plan before an earthquake happens.As part of the 2022 Inter-American Division Risk Management Initiatives, churches should plan to conduct an earthquake drill this year. Your church safety officer can help plan these important drills and can work with your local pastor to schedule and conduct this drill. Even if you don’t have a safety officer, this article will help you know how to conduct an earthquake drill. As you plan, keep in mind that local jurisdiction guidelines should be followed.
The Importance of Safety Drills
Conducting drills can help ensure the safety of your congregation. Regular fire drills or earthquake drills help familiarize occupants with the sound of the alarm system and allow your church to practice evacuation procedures. In the event of an actual emergency, your members will be aware of what to do because you have already rehearsed the procedures.Before you conduct an earthquake drill, it is important to have a written emergency plan. This plan can be prepared by the safety officer and should be approved by the church safety committee or church board.
Drop, Cover, and Hold Method
It is important to follow the guidelines of your local jurisdiction in case of an earthquake. Some countries recommend that you immediately evacuate the building, while others encourage people to follow the popular Drop, Cover, and Hold method. Knowing which actions to take can significantly reduce the risk of injury during an earthquake.The Drop, Cover, and Hold method calls for you to immediately drop onto your hands and knees wherever you are. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low.
The next step is to cover your head and neck with one arm and hand. Look for a sturdy table or desk nearby and crawl underneath it. If there is nothing sturdy close to you, crawl next to an interior wall that is away from windows.
Once you find a safe spot, hold on with one hand while still covering your head with your other hand. Be ready to move with the table if it shifts during the process. If there are no sturdy tables or interior walls away from windows, it may be necessary to stay in place and cover your head and neck with both arms and hands.
Remember to follow local jurisdiction guidelines when writing an emergency plan for your church earthquake drill.
Conducting a Safety Drill
Once you have a written emergency plan, the facility where the earthquake drill will be conducted should be set up correctly. If you will be using any materials during your drill, have them prepared as you are setting up the drill.Before starting the earthquake drill, conduct a briefing to go through the drill with your safety officer and other key ministry leaders. Review the agenda, ground rules, and objectives with all the attendees. Once this has been completed, introduce the scenario or drill to set the stage for the discussion and decision-making that should take place. This can be handled by a team leader along with the help of the safety officer.
After the scenario has been introduced, discuss or perform the drill response with the attendees. This is the action stage, as you are trying to meet the objectives that were discussed during the briefing stage. Remember to check with your local government jurisdiction to select which evacuation drill you should be using.
As soon as the drill is over, the final step is to go through a debriefing process. Your safety officer should help review the things that were done correctly and, most importantly, the things that need further improvement. For example, if you did not meet the target time for evacuating the building, be sure to discuss what can be done differently to meet the target. Remember, everyone should understand their role during an emergency, as well as the goal of the drill.
Talk with your church board before conducting an earthquake drill. Earthquakes occur without warning and can cause substantial damage to buildings and, more importantly, to people. Adventist Risk Management’s ministry is to protect your ministry. Conduct an earthquake drill in 2022 as we work together to keep our churches as safe as possible.
