Lipscomb students are prepared mentally for tornados, floods and fires — but perhaps only recently began wondering about earthquakes.
The recent earthquakes in Japan have rattled many Tennesseans, especially in the western part of the state, which rests on the New Madrid fault line. Though disaster from a quake in West Tennessee is unlikely to reach Nashville, but Lipscomb is ready anyway.
It has been around 200 years since Nashville’s last earthquake. Kathy Hargis, Lipscomb’s Director of Risk Management, said that “by all predictions, we are long overdue one.”
Hargis said Lipscomb has an “all hazards approach” to handling any type of disaster, including an earthquake. This means that the university would be self-sufficient for a period of seven days if a natural disaster were to occur.
“We are prepared to sustain around 1,500 students,” Hargis said. “We have bought bottled water, which would last about two days and large bulk water for the remainder of the week. We looked at Sodexo for food, along with purchasing dried fruit, oatmeal, peanut butter crackers and 2,400-calorie bars.”
All of these emergency items are dispersed around campus in places like Allen Arena, the Student Center and in surrounding storage sites. That way if one building collapses, all is not lost.
Allen Arena would be used as an emergency shelter where an assortment of medical supplies would be available. A medical clinic could also be set up in the Baptist Sports Clinic underneath the arena, so cuts and broken bones could be treated and IV bags could be administered.
Lipscomb has partnered with Red Cross and has plans in place with a trauma doctor who has agreed to come to Lipscomb first if such a catastrophe occurs.
The chance of severe damage from a quake along the New Madrid is relatively slim, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).
Of course, West Tennessee would have plenty to worry about, but that’s not the case in Middle Tennessee.
“Nashville wouldn’t be expected to have a lot of structural damage,” said Jeremy Heidt, TEMA spokesman. “The greatest concern would be having something fall on you– things in the home that aren’t anchored to the wall, like bookcases or tall furniture. This is how most injuries are sustained.”
Heidt recommends a “hazard hunt.” Students can make their dorm safer by identifying anything that can move, break, fall or burn.
He also advises that students take individual responsibility by keeping an emergency bag with items like a first aid kit, food, water, personal medicines, etc.
“Think about what you would need if you had to grab it and go in a matter of minutes,” says Heidt. “Such an emergency grab bag would come in handy regardless of the disaster, from a tornado to an earthquake to an ice storm or flood.”
So while the chances are slim, what should a student do if a quake happens?
“Get under something substantial. Stand in a doorway or crawl under a desk and make sure to protect your head,” Hargis said.
With similar advice, Heidt’s instructions are simple:
“Drop, cover, and hold on.”