Students and staff evacuate for shakeout

More than a thousand students and faculty evacuated their classes and gathered in the quad to participate in the third annual Great California Shakeout this morning. 

Students and faculty took cover in their classrooms before heading outside to practice evacuation procedures.

Although it was the college's first time participating in a school-wide drill, the Campus Safety department has participated in the Great Shakeout in previous years with certain buildings. 

Sgt. Jim McKamy of Campus Safety thought the event successfully increased disaster awareness to the campus. 

"They followed directions, they listened to the radio, and followed directives," said McKamy.

Twice as many officers were present to contribute to the success of the shakeout than in previous years.

Six officers assisted with the event, along with two coordinators. 

"I think, overall, it seemed organized and people cooperated," FC student Abed Zarruq, 21 said. 

"I survived so I'm happy," he said laughing.

Friends Victoria Sanchez and Serena Porter thought the event was a waste of time. 

"When we asked them why we were going outside, they just told us to keep going and that's pretty ridiculous. "

Besides the evacuation drill, some students took place in a triage, also known as a mass casualty incident, to demonstrate the injuries that could be sustained in an earthquake. 

Make-up effects simulated scrapes and cuts and the smeared replicated possible effects caused by a major earthquake.

Fullerton College President Rajen Vurdien attended the event consulting with McKamy, and keeping track of the day's events. 

Campus Safety is waiting for input from faculty participants about this year's drill to better tackle the next shakeout. 

"We're definitely going to do this next year," McKamy said.