An earthquake drill poster for the wall

The six phases PHIVOLCS sets out for schools, on one sheet, large enough to read from a desk. PHIVOLCS wrote these phases for schools, with teachers and class marshalls, so they fit a classroom best.

By Hamza Rivera, updated 6 November 2026

Short answer: The page offers a printable one-sheet poster of the six school drill phases from PHIVOLCS, using PHIVOLCS's own wording for each. PHIVOLCS wrote the phases for schools, so they fit a classroom best, and the page suggests printing the poster once the three preparation stages before the drill are done.

Written for the Philippines. Anim na hakbang ng earthquake drill, ayon sa PHIVOLCS.

What lands on the sheet

The six phases in the order PHIVOLCS runs them. The poster carries the full wording of each and the detail lines under it, large enough to read from a desk.

1 Alarm: During the drill, the 1 minute alarm indicates earthquake or shaking.
2 Response: While the alarm is ongoing, everyone should perform duck, cover and hold. Remain in this position until the shaking stops.
3 Evacuation: As soon as the shaking stops, immediately evacuate the building and proceed to identified evacuation areas using the pre-determined routes, guided by the class marshall or teacher.
4 Assembly: At the designated evacuation area, students are grouped together according to the class where they belong.
5 Head count: Teachers check and make sure all students are accounted for.
6 Evaluation: The overall coordinator announces the termination of the drill, or all clear. An evaluation is then conducted to identify problems encountered during the drill and how they can be improved next time. Observers give their comments and suggestions when everyone is gathered in the evacuation area.

Source: PHIVOLCS, How to Conduct an Earthquake Drill in School: Primer for Teachers (printed October 2011 by DOST-PHIVOLCS). Read 23 September 2026. Linked from the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Preparedness page as a scanned two-page primer. Every phase and stage on this page was read from that scan on 23 September 2026.

PHIVOLCS gives six phases. The pages that rank for this say five, and cite a foreign vendor blog. The reason, and the three stages of preparation that come before the alarm, are on the drill guide.

The poster

Earthquake drill

The six phases, from PHIVOLCS, How to Conduct an Earthquake Drill in School.

1
Alarm During the drill, the 1 minute alarm indicates earthquake or shaking.
2
Response While the alarm is ongoing, everyone should perform duck, cover and hold. Remain in this position until the shaking stops.
- Take cover under a sturdy table and hold on to your cover until the shaking stops.
- Use a book to cover your head.
- Hide under an armchair.
3
Evacuation As soon as the shaking stops, immediately evacuate the building and proceed to identified evacuation areas using the pre-determined routes, guided by the class marshall or teacher.
4
Assembly At the designated evacuation area, students are grouped together according to the class where they belong.
5
Head count Teachers check and make sure all students are accounted for.
6
Evaluation The overall coordinator announces the termination of the drill, or all clear. An evaluation is then conducted to identify problems encountered during the drill and how they can be improved next time. Observers give their comments and suggestions when everyone is gathered in the evacuation area.

staysafedaily.com/emergency-preparedness/earthquake-drill/ . Phases from PHIVOLCS, How to Conduct an Earthquake Drill in School: Primer for Teachers, printed October 2011.

Source: PHIVOLCS, How to Conduct an Earthquake Drill in School: Primer for Teachers (printed October 2011 by DOST-PHIVOLCS). Read 23 September 2026. Linked from the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Preparedness page as a scanned two-page primer. Every phase and stage on this page was read from that scan on 23 September 2026.

Before it goes on the wall

PHIVOLCS puts three stages of preparation before the drill itself: forming the committee, working out the evacuation plan, and the orientation that walks everyone through it. Print this once those are done. A sheet on a wall that nobody has rehearsed is decoration.

The drill, phase by phase The evacuation plan template The PAGASA warning cards