Bathgate Elementary Drops, Covers and Holds On

Submission by Cristina Peczon-Rodriguez:

While the earth didn’t actually move today, people from all over today did as they participated in the annual “Great California Shake Out drill” which serves as an opportunity for communities to plan on how to be safe in the event of an eartquake.

Some 10.32 million California residents made up the majority of the 25 million registered participants for the simulated disaster drill that began in 2008 in California and has since spread to other states and countries.
Mission Viejo’s Bathgate Elementary, that serves over 700 children ranging from preschool to 5th grade practiced “drop, cover and hold” and then evacuated to the playground for the duration of the drill.

Children that were in the classrooms were instructed that wherever one might be at time of an earthquake – at home, work, school, anywhere – they are to “drop, cover and hold on” and stay in this position for at least 60 seconds.

Principal Shelley Kurtz led the mock emergency drill, directing faculty, parent volunteers and all school staff to lead the children to safety in case an untoward situation were to arise.

“Overall, it was very good,” Mrs. Kurtz shared. “We have enough food and water for three days for 800 people. We have all the emergency equipment that we need like if we had to break a door down or things like that. Our first aid supply is updated. We have EZ ups, tarps, enough emergency blankets for 800 kids, glow sticks, lanterns and fresh batteries.”

Kurtz has been Bathgate’s Principal for six years, which incidentally is the same year that the ”Great California Shake Out’ started.

“Every year we do this, it’s a little different,” says Kurtz,” because we don’t know what it would be like when and if it ever happens. It’s really important that we train everyone involved to think on their feet.”

Today’s drill called for an impromptu dry run of how releasing students would work in case of an emergency. School emergency cards for students new to the school this year need to be updated. The elementary school also needs additional hand held radios for communication amongst school personnel, especially when telephone service and basic services could be down in an untoward event. Relief goods were checked by school personnel and the PTA Safety

It’s been more than 20 years since the last big earthquake in Southern California. In early 1994, the 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake killed 57 people, injured 5,000 people and caused some $20 Billion in damage. In 1989, a magnitude 6.9 shaker in San Francisco killed 63 people, injured some 3,800 and caused up to $10 billion in damage. On Aug. 24 this year, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit Napa Valley killing one, leaving scores injured. Officials indicated that the earthquake caused over $400 million in damage.

PHOTOS: Credit Cristina Peczon-Rodriguez.

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