By CARRIE WILLIAMS
Thumb Locks are finding their way onto BYU computers to prevent damage to computer equipment when the 'big one' hits in Utah.
It is estimated that Utah experiences a major earthquake every 350 to 400 years. It has been 400 since the last one, said Kerry Baum, BYU's emergency-preparedness coordinator.
The Thumb Locks attach onto monitors, central processing units and printers to ensure they do not go flying around a room, crashing into walls or people during an earthquake.
Fred Clift, a computer support representative in the computer science department is not looking forward to installing the locks. 'It doesn't thrill me,' he said.
When it comes time to moving the machines, Clift said the locks make doing so an administrative hassle. But he said he realizes the importance of the task and the expenses it will save BYU.
Baum does not think moving the computers is a problem with the locks. He demonstrated with a tool how one simply pries up the adhesive pad, which attaches the lock to the desk. To re-attach the lock, one replaces the adhesive pad, he said.
This preventive measure -- securing computer equipment -- was started 18 months ago at BYU, Baum said. BYU Central Stores has the locks available to all the departments at BYU for their computers.
The process of attaching the locks to the computers in the labs of the Talmage Building is two-thirds of the way done, Clift said. It is a time-consuming task and someone was hired to complete it for the 400 computers, he said.
Statistics gathered by Baum help demonstrate the effectiveness of earthquake preparedness for computer equipment.
When the Loma Preita earthquake hit in California in 1989, Pacific Gas and Electric lost $114 million in equipment. But when the Northridge earthquake hit in 1994, the company was prepared and suffered minimal damages, according to TradeLink International.
Apple Computer lost $14 million in equipment from the Loma Preita equipment. For one year the company was closed trying to recreate files and replace computer equipment. But when the Northridge quake hit, the marketing center at Culver City (near Northridge) only lost two unsecured monitors. Everything that was secured remained intact and operational, according to TradeLink International.
BYU houses approximately 10,500 computers, Baum said. There would be significant damages if the equipment was not secured during an earthquake.
Last fall, BYU was recognized for the efforts it has made in earthquake preparedness and received a certificate of excellence for 'Outstanding Contributions to Earthquake Safety in Utah,' from the Utah Seismic Safety Commission.
Securing computers is one of the many things that have been done to prepare for an earthquake. BYU has been recognized for its efforts to increase earthquake awareness, improve emergency response and recovery and improve the seismic safety of buildings Baum said.