Is there something I can do to escape a big layoff?

There’s going to be a massive lay off at my company. However, no official communication has been made yet. How can I prepare and ensure I survive the layoff? Jim

The words, “layoff; organisation re-structure” will always cause one to be anxious and nervous about their job.
It is important not to panic and make rush decisions until you have received official communication.
While your focus is to secure your job, it is important that you also manage your mental and emotional well-being. You should use the time as an opportunity to think about your future. Start thinking about your next role, whether you decide to remain in the company or not.
You can do this by clearly defining the role you want, researching the skills and competencies one must have to be in the role etc. It’s important to reflect on these findings in the context of your current standing. This is done by conducting a self swot analysis, linking your current skills and abilities with your desired role.
The self-assessment will highlight your gaps, which will inform what you need to do to attain the necessary skills and abilities. Then start looing for that future role but remember you must keep performing in your current role.
If you decide to stay in a company where the layoffs are coming, then my advice is to start collecting evidence of your skills and performance.
Build an evidence inventory of your performance and achievements so that you can present them when asked. If you decide to stay you’ll mostly likely be required to undergo assessments of some sort. If that is the case prepare as if you were going for an interview.