By Ari Howorth
Staff Writer
Mira Costa was one of 2,281 California schools on Oct. 20 to participate in the Great California Shakeout, one of the largest state-wide earthquake drills.
After third period was finished, students walked with their third period class to the baseball field in single-file lines. They waited at the field while various teachers made sure that every student was accounted for. Although some classes had trouble finding their designated areas, the drill finished in half of its expected time.
“Though the drill could not simulate the actual chaos of a real earthquake, we were able to run through the proper procedure,” sophomore Shaylin Austin said. “If an earthquake were to come, this drill might be beneficial.”
California requires that each school have a disaster preparation drill. California does not state how large the drill must be or the specifics on how the drill should be carried out.
This drill differed from normal crisis drills at Costa by assigning students to act injured or dead. These students embody their designations, and teachers were to react appropriately to problems they encountered.
“The key is to keep the staff educated and up to date on procedures, as they will be the ones in control,” Mira Costa Principal Ben Dale said. “If they know the right methods of action, all will run smoothly in a real crisis.”
Staff members had various jobs and responsibilities. While most staff members were solely required to lead their students to the field, some had to run from room to room to check for students that had been left behind as part of the “Rescue Crew” and others had to help injured students as they were returned to safety.
“Many things became apparent from the drill that would increase the effectiveness of our staff,” Vice Principal Jaime Mancilla said. “None of us know how to use a radio appropriately in a case of a disaster. If we are trying to make calls out in a timely fashion, we need a protocol to follow to increase communication.”
Students expressed aspects of the drill that they felt could be improved upon in the future. Many classes found it difficult to know where they needed to be on the field. Students also wanted to know where they would need to go if an earthquake struck at a different time of day, as the drill only prepared third period.
The inclusion of student roles in this year’s drill, made it a much larger than the same drill that took place three years ago. However, this year’s drill focused more on preparing teachers than students, because only a few students were chosen to be injured or dead.
“I had [mock] lacerations on my arms,” junior Carolyn Massey said. “It was crazy how much the staff reacted to my injury and how seriously they took it.”
Administrators believe the drill went smoothly and are confident in Costa’s preparation for a disaster. The combination of student cooperation and teacher efficiency provides Dale with the confidence in the school’s ability in a time of crisis.
“It’s complex,” Dale said. “During an actual earthquake, it’s going to be chaos. You prepare as best as you can, are we truly ready? I take comfort in knowing that out teachers and our leadership is prepared.”
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