Today, the UW will be participating in Sound Shake ‘08, a statewide annual earthquake disaster drill that tests the dependability of the UW’s Emergency Response Management Plan.

Starting at 8:30 a.m. and lasting until 4:30 p.m., the UW campus will join surrounding counties, emergency response teams in Washington state, and local K-12 schools in simulating the response to a 6.7 magnitude catastrophic earthquake.

Test procedures will occur in the UW Emergency Operations Center (EOC), housed in Bryants 111, as well as the UW Medical Center and four out of eight total mass assembly areas around campus: Parrington Hall, the field in front of Denny Hall, the HUB lawn and Rainer Vista by Drumheller fountain.

“Our philosophy is to use an all-hazard approach,” said Steve Charvat, UW emergency management director. “We would activate our systems no matter what the hazard. It could be a human cause; it could be a chemical spill or plane crash. The systems we use are meant to cover any cause.”

This year’s drill will not include students, and will emphasize the chain of command in communication.

The procedure will simulate the EOC’s reaction to a major emergency by responding to messages coming into the center via phone and fax alerts.

The 200 UW staff members participating in the drill are expected to coordinate their responses to the earthquake scenario with members of the UW’s emergency staff and response teams from surrounding areas.

Additionally, they will be expected to simulate their interactions with the media, parents of students, UW staff, city officials and utility companies.

“The primary purpose of this year’s exercise regionally is going to be on communication and sharing information amongst the various players and with the public,” Charvat said.

During this time, the UW will also test emergency radio and satellite systems, as well as post-disaster building inspection teams.

Several UW students feel more secure knowing emergency programs are in place.

“I think earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are the biggest natural threats,” freshman Alexa Rhoads said. “Growing up in the West has made me paranoid about earthquakes. Even though school shootings happen, it still feels very distant. Despite that, I’m glad they’re testing the systems.”

Sound Shake ’08 will provide real-time testing of the new UW Campus Communications Plan that was developed after the April 2007 UW Gould Hall and Virginia Tech tragedies, according to a press release.

After the conclusion of the planned activities, the exercise will be assessed by the UW staff participants and outside evaluators later in March, and recommendations may be made for future improvements.

“Knowing that we’re testing the emergency procedures makes me feel safer, especially after Virginia Tech and NIU,” Rhoads said. “I’m glad to hear that UW is taking the initiative to protect us.”

The UW has won acclaim from the federal government for its emergency plans, according to the press release.

“By practicing our disaster response systems, the UW will be better able to respond to true disasters and emergencies in order to save lives, protect property and safeguard the environment of the UW campus,” Charvat said.

[Reach reporter Kyle Frischkorn at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]