For immediate release

January 27, 2011

Kwantlen community members “drop, cover and hold on” to earthquake safety

(METRO VANCOUVER, B.C.) Kwantlen Polytechnic University joined thousands of organizations, institutions and individuals throughout British Columbia in participation of a province-wide earthquake awareness initiative, ShakeOut B.C. The purpose of Kwantlen’s readiness drill was to promote earthquake safety and raise awareness about earthquake preparedness in the Kwantlen community. In addition, through this drill, the university reinforced the effectiveness of its institutional mass alert system.

On January 26 at 10 a.m., Kwantlen conducted an earthquake readiness drill on all four of its campuses; Surrey, Richmond, Cloverdale and Langley. Students, faculty and staff practiced the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” protocol, in accordance to which they dropped to the ground, took cover under a table and held on to the table leg to shield from falling objects or debris in the event of an earthquake.

“Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s objective in participating in this exercise was to raise our community’s earthquake response awareness,” says Guy Corriveau, emergency planning manager of Kwantlen. “In the event of an earthquake, we all must be well prepared and exercise safety protocols.”

Kwantlen’s Office of Emergency Planning is responsible for the administration of the university’s READYCAMPUS™ emergency management program. It supports and complements institutional risk management and academic, research and operations continuity practices and efforts. For more information about Kwantlen's emergency planning and management initiatives, visit: kwantlen.ca/emergencyplanning

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For more information about this story, contact:
Guy Corriveau
Manager, Emergency Planning
Tel: 604.598.6016
guy.corriveau@kwantlen.ca

OR

For more information about Kwantlen, contact:
Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kwantlen.ca