‘Wait, was that an earthquake?’ Chapman University’s plan for the ‘The Big One’

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Whether you're a California native or just spending a few years in this seismically active state, you've likely thought about "The Big One" — the massive earthquake Californians say is long overdue. But what if it does happen? How prepared is Chapman University to keep its community safe in the face of such a disaster?  

The Panther talked to Megan Murphy, Chapman’s former emergency manager since this fall, and asked her what an emergency response at the university would look like within the first 24 hours following a major earthquake.

“For a major earthquake public safety is going to play a part in doing what's called windshield surveys. They're going to drive around the campus and gain information about the physical damage done to our different structures,” explained Murphy. “If they see a building collapse, they know that one needs immediate attention and the people inside are likely to be injured versus buildings that are completely intact.”

Murphy described that the following step was the creation of an emergency operations center that would serve as a hub for gathering and processing information about the disaster and necessary emergency response.

“(The next step is) going to be notifying our community that we're aware and we're working on getting help or aid to everybody. More information will come to let them know to stay tuned and then send out information as needed,” said Murphy. Some of the communications they will use will be Chapman’s Panther Alert System and email notifications, which allow the university to send real-time updates as soon as possible. 

The university's Multi-Hazard Emergency Response Plan is also updated every three years and regularly tested to ensure its effectiveness. The goal of these tests is to "break" the plan, to identify flaws or areas for improvement. Many departments at Chapman contribute to developing these resources and actively participate in their implementation, such as conducting practice fire drills in dormitories or having Chapman parking services advise on the best ways to maneuver students out of a parking garage in the event of a major disaster. This plan extends beyond earthquake preparedness and covers a wide range of potential disasters, including fires, active shooter situations and regional blackouts.

“Enterprise Risk and Safety encompass many departments: fire and life safety, emergency management, public safety, parking and transportation,” explained Murphy. “They'll work with other departments as necessary, like strategic marketing communication, to either put up hotlines so that parent calls can be funneled to one place and not tie up dispatch. They can (also) work with residential life in case we need to rehome some of our student population who don't have friends or family in the area.” 

But what if a disaster requires students to shelter in place? The Panther spoke with Juan Tinoco, the assistant dean for the office of residential life and first-year experience, who assures the students that partnerships with the university are in place to help provide assistance in such situations.

“There's a plan in place for food distribution, water and medical supplies. If a long-term emergency does occur we do have an established partnership with campus dining services with Sodexo to ensure that we have access to these resources,” explained Tinoco. 

It is clear based on the policies in place that the nature and severity of a disaster play a critical role in shaping the university’s emergency response. The type of disaster dictates not only the resources deployed but also the coordination between various departments, external partners and local authorities, ensuring that the response is tailored to the specific challenges presented.

“It all depends on the type of emergency. Let's say if it's a power outage, your shelter would be shelter in place in the room. But in case there is a larger disaster, we have designated areas where we could shelter folks,” said Tinoco. “Our public safety and emergency health and safety, has identified some areas that would be safe to create these long-term shelters for our students.” 

Given the unpredictability of emergency events, Murphy and Tinoco emphasized the importance of students taking responsibility for their own safety. In the event of a major earthquake or natural disaster, the entire Orange County community could be affected, making it more difficult for local fire and emergency services to prioritize the Chapman campus.

“When you're talking about certain natural disasters, not all of them, but something like a major earthquake or severe earthquake that's above 7.0 — because we're affecting the entire region with incidents. We find that we may have to be a little bit more resilient. There may be more time before those outside agencies come in,” explained Murphy. 

Living in a state prone to various natural disasters highlights the importance of having your own emergency plan, as relying solely on institutional or local emergency services may not be enough during widespread crises. Personal preparedness ensures that, even in situations where resources are stretched thin, you are equipped to handle the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Chapman University offers a variety of emergency training events to educate the campus community on how to protect themselves in such situations, such as CPR and first-aid training courses and fire extinguisher training. 

“Our community training is the best form of preparedness. If we can educate you, then you can protect yourself. We are a campus community of 15,000 people across two campuses and you could be anywhere when disaster strikes,” said Murphy. 

In light of the constant threat of a sudden earthquake, it's essential to take the time to keep a few bottles of water, some snacks like candy or granola bars, a first-aid kit and other essentials in your car, workplace or home. This extra step of preparation could save valuable time in the aftermath of a natural disaster. 

For more information on Chapman University’s emergency preparedness plan and information on what to include in an emergency kit check out the Chapman Emergency Resources website.