Bakersfield College will be among the eight million people who duck and cover as part of the Great California Shake Out.

On Oct. 20 at 10:20 a.m. alarms will sound signaling everyone on the BC campus to go into an earthquake drill.

For the mock disaster, students and staff will drop under desks and tables and hold in position until directed to stop.

They will then be led out into open areas around the campus where they will be asked to wait for further instruction.

At that point, a system of runners will be used by administration to communicate with various groups around campus.

“We’re way overdue for an earthquake,” said Amber Chiang, director of marketing and public relations for BC.

The Bakersfield Fire Department will be on-site to participate and to oversee the procedure.

“We need to be ready for a major emergency,” said Chiang.

The entire earthquake drill will be guided by instructors and administrators who have been given instructions on what to do.

The Great California Shake Out began in 2008 as an effort by the Country Earthquake Alliance to make sure that Southern California residents were prepared for a disaster.

In 2009 the group expanded to include all 58 counties in California.

Both the main BC campus and the satellite campus in Delano will be participating in the event.

Chiang would like to remind students to watch their email accounts for reminders of the mock disaster and to keep all belongings with them during the event.