News and information

Western Washington faces significant earthquake risk, and earthquakes can occur with little to no warning. Practicing how to respond before an earthquake occurs can help protect you and those around you when seconds matter.

Get ready to drop, cover and hold on

UW Emergency Management invites UW students, faculty, and staff to participate in the 2026 Great ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 15. Wherever you are, we encourage you to practice the action that can help protect you during an earthquake: Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

• Drop to your hands and knees so the shaking does not knock you down.
• Cover your head and neck and, if possible, get beneath a sturdy table or desk.
• Hold On until the shaking stops, staying with your shelter if it moves.

If no sturdy table is nearby, cover your head and neck with your arms and move away from windows, glass, and objects that could fall. Think about how you would respond in different situations such as being in bed, driving, in a crowded space, or somewhere without a sturdy table. Watch the Great ShakeOut earthquake video series to learn what to do during an earthquake. If you have mobility concerns, check out the mobility disability earthquake safety video.

Act before October 15

Before October 15, add information about the Great ShakeOut to your upcoming lecture slides and meeting agendas, and hang informational flyers in your office/building. You can also use fun virtual backgrounds leading up to and on the Great ShakeOut on October 15.

Outreach materials are available for campus partners, including flyers, digital signs, PowerPoint slides, and Microsoft Teams and Zoom backgrounds.

UW Emergency Management is hosting a Preparedness 101 training at 11 a.m. on Oct. 9 to prepare for the Great ShakeOut. Register to attend the training.

Check how you will receive emergency information

The drill is also a good opportunity to review how you will receive information from the UW during an emergency.

UW Alert is the University’s emergency alert system. Before October 15, visit the UW Alert sign-up and account management page and sign in with your UW NetID. Check that your email addresses and phone numbers are current and ensure you are subscribed to alerts for the campus or campuses you want to hear from.

You can also learn more about ShakeAlert, the earthquake early warning system operated by the U.S. Geological Survey in partnership with the UW and other universities.

Build preparedness with your community

The Great ShakeOut is a chance to think beyond the few moments during an earthquake. Consider what you might need afterward, how you would communicate with family, friends, loved ones, or housemates, and what you would do if services or communications were disrupted. Learn how to make an emergency plan and build an emergency kit.

UW groups, organizations, and teams can request earthquake and general preparedness training through the UW Emergency Management website. Training can help your community practice response actions, discuss local hazards, and identify questions before an emergency occurs.

Earthquakes are the most serious natural hazard facing the Puget Sound area. Although major earthquakes are rare, they do happen here. And, unlike some other hazards, earthquakes happen with little warning.

Practicing what to do when the ground starts shaking — drop, cover and hold on — can help you feel more confident and prepared for an earthquake. UW Emergency Management invites all UW students, faculty and staff to participate in this year’s Washington Great ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:16 a.m. on Oct. 16. Watch for the UW Alert message, then, wherever you are, stop and practice.

Check out the Great ShakeOut earthquake video series for info about what to do if an earthquake happens while you’re in bed, when you’re driving, while you’re in a stadium or if you don’t have a sturdy table to crawl under. There’s also a video about what to do during an earthquake if you have a mobility disability. Check out the Seattle Times helpful earthquake guide, too.

Before the drill, log into your UW Alert account and make sure your contact info is up-to-date. Particularly for staff and faculty, make sure this includes your cell number for text messaging of alerts.

We also encourage you to download the MyShake earthquake early warning app. The app uses the ShakeAlert automated system run by the U.S. Geological Survey in partnership with the UW and universities in Oregon and California. ShakeAlert uses ground motion sensors to detect earthquakes and send a notification.

ShakeOut is also a good time to think about the time after an earthquake and what you might need. Learn how to make an emergency plan and build an emergency kit.

Michael Palacioz joined the UW Emergency Management team in Fall 2024 as the new UWEM Training and Exercise Manager. He brings a decade of experience in higher education and a deep desire to help communities prepare for and navigate potential disasters.

Tell us about your role as the UW Training and Exercise Manager.

I am responsible for many aspects of the training and exercise program. This includes building out the UW Emergency Management training and exercise calendar, developing and facilitating disaster preparedness workshops, coordinating tabletop exercises and planning training for UW Emergency Operations Center responders and the Incident Coordination Team. I also work on outreach initiatives and programming to inform the campus community about disaster preparedness.

Why did you decide to work in emergency management?

Growing up on the West Coast, I participated in earthquake drills and evacuation exercises from a young age, which sparked my interest in disaster preparedness. That early exposure instilled in me an appreciation for the importance of planning, training and resilience in the face of uncertainty.

This passion has stayed with me throughout my career and has driven my desire to help communities prepare for and navigate potential disasters. While emergency management work is a newer chapter in my professional journey, it builds on years of experience responding to crisis situations in higher education.

During my time in residential life and housing, I handled a wide range of emergencies, from large-scale incidents like fires and minor earthquakes affecting entire buildings, to deeply personal crises impacting college students. These experiences have honed my ability to remain calm under pressure and respond thoughtfully and effectively when a crisis situation comes up.

I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to train and educate the campus community, empowering them to feel prepared for when a disaster strikes. Whether it’s a large-scale disaster or a smaller-scale emergency, I am eager to support the campus community.

What professional and educational experience do you bring to the UW?

I have worked in higher education for 10 years. My most recent experience was working with Housing & Food Services at the University of Washington within the Residential Life Department where I oversaw the Care and Conduct program. Prior to working at the University of Washington I worked at Seattle University, the University of Nevada – Reno, the University of Southern California and the University of Arizona.

In all of my roles I worked within Residential Life and Housing where I was responsible for overseeing residential buildings and programs. I received my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from Marshall University. After graduating from Marshall, I attended the University of Arizona where I got my Master’s of Arts degree in Higher Education.

What’s an item you added to your emergency kit for fun or for comfort?

When it comes to emergency kits, I have to admit my dog’s kit is far more robust than mine. She is fully prepared with everything she needs and she may have too many toys packed for her. For me, I like to keep fidget toys on hand. Typically I like my fidget cube or my infinity cube. Something to keep me distracted during high stress situations.

What are you happiest doing when you’re not working?

I have been playing the saxophone for many years and am heavily involved in community bands in the Seattle area. I play in multiple concert bands but my favorite is playing at the Seattle Reign FC games as part of Reign City Riot.

UW Emergency Management welcomed new Deputy Director Rob Sabarese this Fall. Rob brings almost two decades of emergency management experience to the University of Washington, most recently working for the Washington State Emergency Management Division.

We asked Rob about his emergency management work and his role at the UW.

Why did you decide to work in emergency management?

There are two primary reasons why I elected to work in the emergency management career field. I think the first, and probably the most important, is serving, contributing and providing a meaningful difference in the communities where I work.

The second and yet equally important part of working in the emergency management field is the cost of recovery efforts following a disaster, emergency, crisis or incident can be more than what an organization, enterprise or community would anticipate. It’s the collaboration, interconnectedness, commitment and discipline of following preparedness activities with our partners that is the difference in minimizing the impacts of post disaster costs and community recovery efforts.

How did you get into emergency management work?

I originally started my U.S. Air Force career as a first responder (Air Force Police). As I advanced in my career with more responsibilities, I had the opportunity following the 9/11 attacks to help foster a program focused on personal preparedness and safety for Air Force personnel in overseas locations. From there my career catapulted into emergency response.

I received my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Counterterrorism, then a master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management. I further advanced to working in the McChord Air Force Base Emergency Operations Center and command-level coordination of emergency response activities.

I retired in 2012 and was hired on as the MultiCare Health System Emergency Management Practice Leader, Washington State Emergency Management Coordinator for the Legislature, WA Emergency Management Division Assessment and Exercise Programs Supervisor, then Organizational Effectiveness Manager.

Tell us about your role. What are your responsibilities as Deputy Director of Emergency Management?

My role as the Deputy Director has many different facets. My responsibilities include operational and administrative management of the emergency management program elements, including preparedness planning, assessments, evaluations, coordination of strategic planning, etc.

Other factors include working to synchronize efforts across the UW in Seattle campus departments, UW Tacoma, UW Bothell and UW Medicine, while ensuring their own respective emergency operational activities and preparedness remain intact, so that it works for them. Tertiary to internal UWEM relationship management is to work externally with our city, county, state and federal partners to ensure the UW enterprise is best outfitted and supported before, during and after an emergency or disaster.

Why did you decide to work at the University of Washington?

The history, pride and prestigious culture of the University of Washington was a definite decision factor, but also, after learning about the Deputy Director role it was a prime opportunity and a win-win for UW and me. I can share, educate and help foster a culture of preparedness through the experience I’ve gained, but also for me to learn more about emergency preparedness in higher education.

What’s an item you added to your emergency kit for fun or for comfort?

Dog treats and toys for my dog, Cassy. Oh, and I can’t forget her tennis balls. I have about 30 tennis balls in a bag for her.

What are you happiest doing when you’re not working?

Running. It’s my favorite pastime. It’s not only therapeutic and healthy, but there’s a way to connect with so many people.