Thousands in the LBCC community including students, faculty and staff on both Long Beach City College campuses joined millions of participants across California in the 2026 Great California ShakeOut, evacuating every campus building on Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m.
The Great ShakeOut is an international earthquake preparedness drill with about 2.2 million college and university participants registered in California this year, according to The Great California ShakeOut’s website.
The drill informs students to drop, cover and hold on, along with adapted instructions for people with mobility issues who may use canes, walkers or wheelchairs.
LBCC evacuated students and staff to designated open areas throughout both campuses.
LBCC participated in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 15 at both LAC and TTC and served as a way to familiarize students and staff with proper earthquake protocols. A duck, cover and hold practice was followed by a mandatory evacuation and release. (Jacyn King)
Shortly after 10:15 a.m., students and staff filed into predetermined evacuation areas for the duration of the drill. Many students socialized while waiting for the all-clear to return to their classrooms.
Some students chose to leave campus rather than wait for the drill to end.
LBCC student Mary Rodriguez said she knew about the drill ahead of time and decided to leave early.
“This is why I’m leaving right now,” Rodriguez said.
Renee Ryle, an administrative assistant in the Language Arts and Communication Department, served as Building P’s emergency coordinator during the drill.
Her responsibilities included sweeping assigned areas, directing remaining occupants to exits and designated assembly areas, confirming the building had been cleared and reporting its status to the incident management team.
Ryle said evacuation procedures can differ depending on where someone is when an emergency begins. Students in classrooms are typically directed by their instructors, while building emergency coordinators check hallways, restrooms and other rooms for anyone who may still be inside.
“If they’re in class, their instructor is leading them,” Ryle said. “But if they’re just in a hallway or restroom, then whoever is the emergency coordinator for that building is going to check all rooms, and when they’re clear, we lock them up.”
Ryle said LBCC introduced incident management team personnel in campus buildings this semester, adding another layer to the emergency response process.
Previously, building emergency coordinators were responsible for clearing their buildings and reporting directly that they were ready for occupants to return. Under the new system, coordinators report to an IMT member, who then relays the building’s status to the broader emergency coordination team.
Not every student felt the drill was especially useful.
LBCC electrical trades student Charles Howard said he was unsure what he was expected to do once the drill began.
“To be honest, it didn’t really feel like a drill,” Howard said.
When asked whether the exercise felt useful or more like going through the motions, LBCC student Tichelle Brooks said it did not have much impact on her.
“It didn’t feel like it was too useful for me,” Brooks said.
While many students spent the drill talking with friends or checking their phones, staff followed a detailed emergency procedure that outlined each step of the evacuation, including communication between building coordinators and incident management teams.
LBCC students return to classes after a mandatory evacuation after the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Oct. 15. The drill was held at both the LAC and TTC campuses, and served as a way to familiarize students and staff with proper earthquake protocols. (Matthew Bautista)
Although the exercise may have appeared to some students as a break from class, the coordination behind the drill involved a structured process that was largely unseen by those waiting in the evacuation areas.
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