Story by Dima Halwani, Staff Writer
Photo Illustrated by Viviana Valencia, Editor-In- Chief
Cypress College will conduct an evacuation exercise as part of the Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at 10:16 a.m. This drill is assembled to help students and staff practice emergency procedures in the event of a real earthquake.
During the drill, students will follow the “ Drop, Cover, and Hold on” protocol during the drill. Afterward,students will follow instructions from faculty and campus staff, and gather in designated areas once they have safely exited the buildings.
The drill aims to ensure that the Cypress College community is well-prepared and confident in responding to a real earthquake. Students are advised to stay alert for campus notifications that will be sent through email, text, or the NOCCCD myGateway app. These notifications will provide updates and safety instructions throughout the drill.
For added safety, students are encouraged to update their contact information through myGateway to ensure they receive emergency text alerts. To verify or add a cell phone number, students can follow these steps:
- Sign into myGateway.
- Go to the “Personal Information” channel under the “Student” tab.
- Click on the item “Set Text Message Alert Preferences.”
- When clicking on “Set Text Message Alert Preferences,” the next screen will allow you to enter your cell phone information
For more information about the drill and safety procedures, visit Cypress College’s Great ShakeOut page or contact Campus Safety at (714) 484-7387.
