2008 Woodie Awards
Earthquake procedures examined
Robin Phelps
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
Robin Phelps
Assistant News Editor
Though the last significant earthquake in Kentucky was a 5.1 on a scale of one to 10 in 1811, Murray State administrators remain prepared in the case of an earthquake emergency.
"It's an unannounced event, so it takes a long period of time to prepare for an earthquake," Jeff Steen, environmental coordinator in Facilities Management said of the provisions Murray State has made over the years.
Along with a 1979 building code ensuring every building made after this date was earthquake resistant, Murray State also provides students with an outline for emergency procedures.
Green and black flip charts adorn the walls of Murray State buildings and offer steps in expediting the process of providing safety for students, faculty and staff.
According to Murray State's Emergency Procedures Guide prepared by the Office of Environmental Safety and Health, students should seek shelter away from falling debris and glass, avoid elevators and assist those in need.
Along with the emergency procedures guides located in rooms and online, Murray State also is prepared with emergency generators for power outages.
With these establishments made to secure the safety of the Murray State community, Steen said the University anticipates expanding the measures in response to emergency situations.
"We've talked with the state to provide training on what to do in emergency disasters," Steen said.
Though Community Emergency Response team training is not yet a fixture, Steen said the University does have other training programs.
The building coordinator program offered and encouraged by the Office of Environmental Safety and Health is one, Steen said, 80-85 percent of faculty and staff members are trained in.
"We make a major emphasis to do the training in August and September," Steen said.
Steen said students should seek shelter in steel-reinforced doorways, duck and cover and retreat to buildings that are newer, longer, shorter and wider.
"I wouldn't want to be on the top floor of Faculty Hall," Nathan Oliver, graduate student from Mayfield, Ky., said.
Getting to the most preferable and safest building is not always possible, but David Wilson, director of Housing, said students living in the residential colleges still remain safe. With the cooperation of resident advisers, Housing staff and public safety, Wilson said students can look for prompt communication.
"Murray State is working on ways to have more communication with residents over issues," Wilson said.
In all of the University's preparations for the event of an earthquake, Steen said Murray-Calloway County's preparedness for the event was deemed sufficient by Homeland Security after a drill performed May 2007.
Robin Phelps can be reached at robinj.phelps
@murraystate.edu.
Assistant News Editor
Though the last significant earthquake in Kentucky was a 5.1 on a scale of one to 10 in 1811, Murray State administrators remain prepared in the case of an earthquake emergency.
"It's an unannounced event, so it takes a long period of time to prepare for an earthquake," Jeff Steen, environmental coordinator in Facilities Management said of the provisions Murray State has made over the years.
Along with a 1979 building code ensuring every building made after this date was earthquake resistant, Murray State also provides students with an outline for emergency procedures.
Green and black flip charts adorn the walls of Murray State buildings and offer steps in expediting the process of providing safety for students, faculty and staff.
According to Murray State's Emergency Procedures Guide prepared by the Office of Environmental Safety and Health, students should seek shelter away from falling debris and glass, avoid elevators and assist those in need.
Along with the emergency procedures guides located in rooms and online, Murray State also is prepared with emergency generators for power outages.
With these establishments made to secure the safety of the Murray State community, Steen said the University anticipates expanding the measures in response to emergency situations.
"We've talked with the state to provide training on what to do in emergency disasters," Steen said.
Though Community Emergency Response team training is not yet a fixture, Steen said the University does have other training programs.
The building coordinator program offered and encouraged by the Office of Environmental Safety and Health is one, Steen said, 80-85 percent of faculty and staff members are trained in.
"We make a major emphasis to do the training in August and September," Steen said.
Steen said students should seek shelter in steel-reinforced doorways, duck and cover and retreat to buildings that are newer, longer, shorter and wider.
"I wouldn't want to be on the top floor of Faculty Hall," Nathan Oliver, graduate student from Mayfield, Ky., said.
Getting to the most preferable and safest building is not always possible, but David Wilson, director of Housing, said students living in the residential colleges still remain safe. With the cooperation of resident advisers, Housing staff and public safety, Wilson said students can look for prompt communication.
"Murray State is working on ways to have more communication with residents over issues," Wilson said.
In all of the University's preparations for the event of an earthquake, Steen said Murray-Calloway County's preparedness for the event was deemed sufficient by Homeland Security after a drill performed May 2007.
Robin Phelps can be reached at robinj.phelps
@murraystate.edu.
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