The Opening Program is set to end by 8:30 AM, this will give all drill participants enough time to go back to their respective classes, offices and stations prior to the “Ceremonial Pressing of the Button” at exactly 9:00 AM. Once the button is pressed, the first alarm will be sounded for one (1) minute to signal that there is an ongoing ground shaking or earthquake. During this timeframe, everyone shall practice the “duck, cover and hold”. No one leaves the classroom, office or station yet. After this, a second alarm will be sounded to alert that there is an approaching tsunami. This is the time that we will commence or activate the “Evacuation Mechanism” of the University. As safety precaution and facilitation of a systematic evacuation mechanism, the following protocols shall be followed before, during and after the drill and must be cascaded to everyone:
- Teachers and Office Heads or In-charge, must have noted or have a working knowledge of the actual number of students or employees present during his/her class or supervision prior to the drill. Therefore, attendance must be checked prior to the first alarm.
- Students or employees seated or stationed nearest the exit point or door, must be the first to go out of the classroom or office. In the context of classroom management, Teachers will have to facilitate the exit mechanism of all students, by situating herself or himself outside the door of the room until all students have gone out of the classroom.
- During the exit mechanism, occupants of each classroom or office must fall in a single line while vigilantly covering their heads for a precautionary protection, until they have secured an open space.
- In using the stairs, maintain the single line, and everyone must calmly utilize the steps with utmost precaution to avoid trip and fall.
- By the time you have secured an open space, one must look for the navigational signage showing the Tsunami Evacuation Route (for the time being, please see attached Evacuation Mechanism Route for Colleges and other Offices/Buildings).
- Once the route has been identified, evacuees shall fall in line, strictly utilizing a “one-line mechanism”, with an arm’s length distance from each other, except for the occupants of the CONAS and the Communication Department’s Building, who may pursue a “two-line mechanism” since they are expected to traverse the evacuation route first, and still have the whole road space for themselves.
- Evacuees may walk or brisk walk calmly towards the evacuation site. Strictly no holding hands, pushing, shouting, cheering and taking selfies or videos;
- Evacuees who have reached the Motorpool Site, which is a crossroad of both the North Bound and South Bound Routes, shall maintain the “one-line mechanism” and must take the most strategic position as they enter the PAGASA Road leading to the evacuation site.
- All evacuees coming from the South Bound Route (COED, COE, CCS, COT and Administration) must take the left side of the road, while evacuees using the North Bound Route (CAS, CANS, CBMA, CCJE and Library) shall take the right side of the road. Strictly no crossing, transferring or merging while traversing this narrow road.
- Once you have arrived to the Evacuation Site, look for the signage that directs or identifies your respective pre-assigned assembly area per College and/or Building.
- Everyone must always be alert and attentive of any announcement and directives from the safety marshals and/or any identified DRRM Focal Person or University Official.
Please know, that we have invited our partners from the Provincial DRRMO, City DRRMO, Red Cross Philippines, Office of Civil Defense, Emergency Response Teams to assist us in the conduct and the evaluation of this drill. If you have questions or concerns, please call or text Forester Edgar I. Peque, the Director of the University’s Institutional Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office (IDRRMO), through his mobile phone number: +63 999 312 4835. Your cooperation is earnestly sought.
