Students and staff participated in the California Great ShakeOut earthquake drill on Oct.18 at 10:18 a.m. Everyone took cover under desks, sturdy structures and other safe areas.
The purpose of this drill is to practice how to be safer when an actual earthquake occurs, as one can hit unexpectedly anywhere at any time.
About 57.6 million participants registered for the Great ShakeOut. Temple City High School participates in the event annually.
Additionally, school administration and custodial faculty began updating the campus emergency bin in September to prepare the school for other types of emergencies.
Assistant Principal Mr. Christopher Holmes, Athletic Director Ms. Sarah Penalora, members of custodial staff and two maintenance staff members from the district went through the contents of the bin.
They disposed of expired items, took an inventory of the remaining items and placed an order through the district for new supplies. Representatives from JPA, a company that helps review disaster protocol and emergency inventory, joined them.
Located behind the Varsity Baseball field by the Oak gate, the emergency bin holds materials in case of a major disaster. If one occurs, students will evacuate to the football field and teachers will go to the bin for supplies.
The school emergency plans assign nearly every campus adult to a team with specific tasks in a disaster.
Ms. Penalora and earth science teacher Mr. Ralph Fick are in charge of the bin distribution, giving teachers what they need based on what team they’re in.
The school’s next stride towards emergency preparedness is training for staff and faculty members. On Nov. 27 and 29, outside experts will be guiding teachers through emergency procedures.
While faculty members are taking their next steps in training for emergencies, students will maintain the same responsibilities from previous years.
For evacuation drills, students need to report to their 4th period teacher on the football field.
“Earthquake and fire drills are considered to be good practice…however, in my opinion, and I speak for many, they are quite useless,” Sophomore Catherine Ruan said. “In a real emergency, not many will take the time to stand quietly in a single file line.”
While there is a Red Cross bin on campus, the school is not currently identified as a Red Cross shelter.
TCHS School Newspaper