Drop! Cover! Hold on!
Did you know Tennessee has the two most active seismic zones in the eastern United States? Here is what to do if an earthquake occurs.
- Seek shelter under a sturdy desk. If a desk is not available, move into a hallway or stand against an inside wall.
- Do NOT attempt to exit the building during active shaking. Wait until the shaking has stopped. Falling materials can be deadly.
- Do NOT run down stairs or use elevators. Stay clear of windows and heavy appliances.
- If you are outdoors, stay away from buildings, utility lines, trees, bridges, or any other structure that could fall.
- Once the shaking has stopped, exit damaged buildings. *Doors may be jammed, so exiting through another means may be necessary. Doors should be left open if possible.
- Be prepared for aftershocks.
- Report your condition and location to emergency preparedness personnel or some other official. If trapped, bang on something to make noise rather than yelling for help.
- See earthquake specific functional needs instructions in the ShakeOut guide.
Earthquake Preparation Video
Self-report for Tracking
- Attempt to contact your immediate family. (It is good practice to designate a common point of contact that your family and friends know to call.)
- Provide information to university officials for rosters upon request.
- Register on the emergency database (RECONNECT) designed to share information in an emergency.
- If you’re unable to register online, call the university safe line at 865-656-7233 to be added to the database.