Are YOU Prepared?

Everyone is prepared for fire, since grade school we learned the basics of orderly evacuation and how to stay with our classes.  In the corporate world, fire drills are much the same.

However,  NO ONE on the east coast is prepared for earthquakes (unless you grew up on the west coast, then that's another story).

Today, Richmond, VA experienced an earthquake.  The epicenter was 40 miles away, but the shocks were worrisome.  The building I work in is only 2 years old, so it is structurally equipped to withstand an earthquake.  The employees?  That's another story.

No alarm sounded, no lights flashed just my boss saying 'We're evacuating! Tell everyone on the floor.'

I ran the floor, using my best parade grounds voice, saying 'Everyone to the emergency exits.  THIS IS NOT A DRILL!'

Fast forward to after the building was deemed safe and we were all back at our desks.  The following email was sent:

As you may have noticed, our region experienced a 5.8 earthquake earlier today.  The epicenter appeared to be in Louisa County, about 40 miles northwest of Richmond.  This building was designed to manage seismic activity typical for this region.  Aftershocks following an earthquake of this magnitude are not uncommon, so don’t be unduly alarmed should we experience them.  

In the event an evacuation is necessary, an announcement will be made over the building intercom system and alarms will be sounded.  If that should happen, use the stairwells (not the elevators) and proceed to your designated waiting area across from our 5th Street entrance.

My question is to the powers that be, are we now going to have earthquake drills?