With four major earthquakes occurring globally in the past four months and City College on a fault line, people are starting to think about our preparedness for natural disaster.

“If an earthquake happens here, we’re going to be on our own,” said Erik Fricke, director of campus security.

This is because an earthquake is unlike other emergencies- it won’t just affect campus, but hit citywide.

The local police and firefighters will have other response priorities, such as hospitals and grade schools, Fricke said.

On campus, faculty and designated safety marshals will be in charge of evacuating buildings. Safety marshals are equipped with a bag of first response materials to help people evacuate as safely as possible.

These materials include flashlights, whistles, and glow sticks. Also, facemasks for people with asthma who may be sensitive to debris, rescue blankets for those who may be going into shock, and trauma dressing will be provided.

But “no matter how prepared you are for something, if it’s bad enough, there’s going to be complications,” Fricke said. “There could be ruptured gas lines, there could be fires, there could be buildings that collapse.”

Security has prepared its own priorities.

“Security’s job is to help with the evacuations by relaying information to different parties and directing emergency crews to needed areas,” he said. “That’s the immediate.”

But if an earthquake is really serious, campus may be the best place to be.

“The college has its own resources,” Fricke said.

The Health and Wellness Center and nursing programs will have faculty, instructors and students that can help victims, along the athletic trainers and students who can help treat injuries. The Marine Technology Program has CPR certified instructors, and can provide oxygen where needed, Fricke said.

Maintenance is ready to shut off gas and electricity lines, and has access to backup generators. The Grounds Department has a tractor to help move rubble and debris.

But for the average student, it comes down to common sense.

“It’s not a foolproof system,” Fricke said. “People have to be prepared on their own.”

Fricke said students need to be aware of dangerous situations, know their escape routes, and have an emergency preparedness kit at home. He suggests having a bag of bottled waters, energy bars, flashlights and a first aid kid ready.