Cal State Fullerton Police Department is bringing an interactive earthquake simulator to the CSUF Quad on Oct. 15 from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., in collaboration with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
The event will feature a simulation of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that lasts about 30 seconds.
Senior Emergency Services Coordinator with the Earthquake Early Warning at Cal OES Jon Gudel said that the overall thought process behind the simulation is to “get everybody in California prepared for the next big earthquake.”
This simulation allows people to understand the severity and intensity of a significant earthquake.
While being held at CSUF, the simulator is open to the public. “Folks either from on campus or off campus can come and ride the simulator,” Gudel said.
The purpose of this program is to prepare students for potentially strong earthquakes in the future.
“Our purpose is to equip the community with the knowledge and some real-world experience in a controlled and safe environment,” Marissa Garza, public affairs and communication specialist with the CSUF Police Department, wrote in an email. “Earthquakes, even for those who have lived with them all their lives, can be scary. We would like to replace the fear with knowledge.”
Emergency Management and Continuity Coordinator Eric Dalton highlighted that events like this are a good opportunity for the campus to connect and become more aware.
“We encourage anyone who’s interested to stop by, experience the simulator, and take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about earthquake preparedness,” Dalton wrote in an email. “It’s also a chance to share other preparedness resources and answer any questions people may have about how to stay safe during an emergency.”
This simulation event is a part of the Great California ShakeOut tour — a tour that goes to multiple campuses around the Cal State University system. This year, the tour is scheduled to visit four separate places in California, including CSUF.
Overall, this event is being held to ensure that the CSUF community is ready with the knowledge to stay safe if an earthquake does occur.
To stay prepared, Gudel also recommends downloading the Shake app, an app that gives a 30-second heads up for incoming earthquakes here in California.
“So imagine … we get 30 seconds that we’re about to feel an earthquake, we can protect ourselves, if we’re driving, we can pull off to the side of the road,” Gudel said. “The further away you are from it, the more time you’ll have, and that could potentially save your life.”