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Save the Date: ShakeOut 10/16/25

Published on by Ayla Quesada.

Save the date for the 2025 Great ShakeOut on 10/16/25

Add a reminder to your calendar.

When you receive the LabAlert:

  • Drop to your hands and knees. This position prevents you from being knocked over and allows you to move if necessary.
  • Cover your head and neck under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a desk or table. If no shelter is nearby, cover your head and neck with your arms and crouch near an interior wall, away from windows or items that could fall.
  • Hold On to your shelter until the shaking stops. Be prepared for movement; if your shelter shifts, move with it.

Evacuate

  • Calmly exit the building using the nearest safe route.
  • Proceed to the closest Evacuation Assembly Area (EAA).
  • Stay clear of traffic lanes and emergency response routes.

Check In for Lab Accountability at the EAA:

  • Scan the posted QR code to assist with sitewide personnel accountability.
  • Return to work after you have checked in.
  • Email emergencymanagement@lbl.gov with any comments, observations, or feedback about the evacuation or accountability process. Your input helps improve future preparedness.

Some EAA locations have been updated or added, please use the below map to see the current locations and ID numbers of EAAs. Learn more about the EAA update initiative here.

EAA_2025_BoldDownload

Get Ready for 10/19 at 10:19

Published on by Ian Servin.

A diagram depicting how to drop, cover and hold during an earthquake.

Make a short investment in your safety on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 10:19 a.m. The Lab is participating in the annual earthquake drill with millions of people around the world practicing earthquake safety on the same day.

Lab locations and many of our homes are near earthquake faults. There may be only seconds to prepare, so practice with your colleagues and millions of others. Anyone who checks in at the Emergency Assembly Area will be entered in a random drawing for one of three go bags to help you prepare for an emergency. Everyone who is working at an offsite building will be eligible for the drawing as well.

 

What: 

  • The Lab is participating in an international earthquake drill called the Great ShakeOut.
  • At the start of the drill, a LabAlert message will be sent instructing everyone to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.  
  • After a minute or two, a second LabAlert message will instruct those at a Lab site to evacuate to their Emergency Assembly Area (EAA).   There will be a QR code on the EAA sign to use to check in. Please use your phone, or borrow someone’s phone, to complete the check-in.
  • Some buildings, including buildings 2, 46, 50, 50A, 50B, 59, 62, 66, 67, 70, 70A, 71, 77, 88, 90 and 91, should evacuate at the sound of fire alarms. 
  • You should always take essential personal items with them when you evacuate (phone, wallet, keys, badge, etc.).
  • You should respond to both of the LabAlert notifications and check-in at the EAA (volunteers will provide the check-in survey).
  • To find your EAA ahead of time, look for the emergency evacuation poster near building exits or select the “Emergency Assembly Area” layer at map.lbl.gov. 

 

Who: 

  • All those working onsite are expected to participate, unless exempted (please email emergencymanagement@lbl.gov with questions). Those at offsite locations will take part in the drop, cover, and hold, but will not evacuate their building. ALS (Buildings 6, 15, and 80) will conduct their drill on 10/17.
  • Those working from home are encouraged to participate and use this time to review their home emergency preparedness plan. 
  • Volunteers will help direct people to their EAA location and provide the check-in survey
  • The drill is managed by the Lab’s Emergency Management group.

 

When and Where: 

  • Thursday, Oct. 19 from 10:19 a.m. until approximately 10:35 a.m.
  • All occupied buildings at all Lab locations (hill and offsite), except on the UC Berkeley campus. 

 

Why: 

  • Familiarize everyone with emergency procedures
  • Meet regulatory requirements for annual evacuations and fire alarm drill
  • Meet DOE requirements to perform a quarterly personnel accountability drill 

 

Communications: 

  • Drill point-of-contact: emergencymanagement@lbl.gov 
  • Lab employees will be notified of the drill through an email and articles in Elements prior to October 19.
  • Drill details have been communicated to Building Emergency Teams (BET), Building Managers, Division Safety Coordinators, and the Readiness & Resiliency Working Group (R2WG). 
  • Drill announcements with protective actions/measures will be made through LabAlert, the Lab Public Address System, and BET radios.

Feel free to take photos of you participating in the Drop, Cover, and Hold On or evacuation portions of the drill and post to social media using the tag #LBNLShakeOut2023. 

The Lab is Getting Ready to ShakeOut on 10/20 at 10:20

Published on by Ayla Quesada.

A set of 3 pictograms depicts a figure performing actions: drop, cover, and hold on.

Make a 30-minute investment in your safety on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 10:20 a.m. The Lab is participating in the annual earthquake drill that started in California and is now international, with millions of people around the world practicing earthquake safety on Oct. 20. 

Lab locations and most of our homes are near earthquake faults. There may be only seconds to prepare, so practice with your colleagues and millions of others. 

What: 

A faded yellow sign that reads "EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY AREA". Behind the sign, the background is split horizontally with blue sky on top and green trees on bottom.

  • The Lab is participating in an international earthquake drill called the Great ShakeOut.
  • At the start of the drill, personnel will be instructed to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.  
  • After a minute or two, personnel will be instructed to evacuate to their Emergency Assembly Area 
  • (EAA).   
  • Personnel should always take essential personal items with them when they evacuate (phone, keys, badge, etc.).
  • Personnel should  both respond to the LabAlert notifications and check-in at their EAA (volunteers will provide the check-in survey).
  • To review your EAA ahead of time, look for the emergency evacuation poster near building exits or select the “Emergency Assembly Area” layer at map.lbl.gov. 

Who: 

  • All personnel working onsite are expected to participate, unless exempted (please email emergencymanagement@lbl.gov with questions). ALS has been exempted. 
  • Personnel working from home are encouraged to participate, and review their home emergency preparedness plan. 
  • Volunteers will help direct people to their EAA and provide the check-in survey
  • The drill is managed by the Lab’s Emergency Management group.

When and Where: 

  • Thursday, Oct. 20 from 10:20 a.m. until approximately 10:50 a.m.
  • All occupied buildings at all Lab locations (hill and offsite), except on the UC Berkeley campus. 

Why: 

  • Make a 30-minute investment in your safety
  • Familiarize Lab personnel with emergency procedures
  • Meet regulatory requirements for annual evacuations
  • Meet DOE requirements to perform a quarterly personnel accountability drill 

Communications: 

  • Drill point-of-contact: emergencymanagement@lbl.gov 
  • Lab employees will be notified of the drill through an email and articles in Elements prior to October 20.
  • Drill details have been communicated to Building Emergency Teams (BET), Building Managers, Division Safety Coordinators, and the Readiness & Resiliency Working Group (R2WG). 
  • Drill announcements with protective actions/measures will be made through LabAlert, the Lab Public Address System, and BET radios.

Please take photos of your Drop, Cover, and Hold On (or evacuation) and post to social media using tag #LBNLShakeOut2022.  Recognition will be given to select participants!

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