Announcements » Great Shakeout Earthquake Emergency Drill - October 17, 2024

Great Shakeout Earthquake Emergency Drill - October 17, 2024

Dear EMCSD Community,


We want to remind everyone about an important event that all of our schools and offices will participate in on October 17th at approximately 9:00am. We will participate in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Emergency Drill, an annual initiative to raise awareness for earthquake safety and preparedness.


Reminder: this is only a drill. It allows us to test our emergency response procedures and practice earthquake safety. Earthquakes are common in Southern California, and we must be prepared in the event of a large earthquake during the school day. These drills are excellent opportunities for students to learn and practice emergency safety procedures. The Great ShakeOut allows us to better equip our students, staff, and schools when responding to earthquakes and other natural disasters.


During the drill, students and staff will be asked to:

  • "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" to simulate protective actions during an earthquake.

  • Evacuate to designated safe areas if necessary.

  • Practice our schools' and offices' emergency communication and accountability procedures.


Being prepared does not just start and end at school. We encourage you to discuss earthquake preparedness at home with your child and loved ones. You can even work together to create your own emergency plan. For more information on earthquake preparedness and safety, please visit the Great ShakeOut website at www.shakeout.org. We have also provided tools and tips below for your reference.


Thank you for your partnership in making El Monte City School District a safer community,


Dr. Maribel Garcia

Superintendent

Great ShakeOut - Earthquake Safety Videos
 
Earthquakes can happen at any time, especially in Southern California. Below are some essential safety tips everyone should know in case a large earthquake hits:
 
1. Know how to turn on your water and/or gas:
Whether you live in an apartment or at home, you should know where your water and gas valves are and know how to turn them off. Fires and flooding are major aftereffects of any large earthquake, so turning off water and gas can be very beneficial to prevent flooding and fires in your home.
 
2. Don't Run:
During an earthquake, especially a large one, you must find cover and protect your head. Dropping, taking cover, and holding onto something sturdy could save you from sustaining a significant injury. "Running" during an earthquake can be very dangerous. The force of the shaking while running could cause you to sprain an ankle, fall, and even break bones in your legs and feet. Objects will fall and could potentially hit you, so your best option is to take cover until the shaking stops.
 
3. Have shoes by your bed:
For those who remember the Northridge Earthquake, it occurred at 4:30am when many people were asleep. A common injury during or after large earthquakes is people stepping on glass when they try to run to safety or leave their homes once the shaking stops. Powerful earthquakes will break windows, so having shoes by your bed or readily accessible can prevent foot injuries.
 
4. Water and Food for 3 Days:
70% of Los Angeles and LA County's water supply is imported. Our main aqueducts cross the San Andreas fault, where experts believe the next "big" earthquake will occur, resulting in a magnitude 7 or higher. If that happens, you want to have enough water stored to last until local, state, and federal emergency services arrive. The earliest time for FEMA to arrive is estimated at 3 days, so you will want enough drinking water to last. How much water?: The average person needs about 1 gallon of water per day, so ideally, you would have at least 3 gallons per person in a household.
 
5. Text, Don't Call:
Local emergency services will be focused on putting out fires and rescuing people from buildings. Telephone lines will most likely be jammed with many people trying to call. When trying to reach loved ones, texting is your best option because it takes less data to transmit a text than a phone call.
 
6. Have Cash on Hand
Electrical services will most likely be out due to downed power lines, which means digital payments will most likely be out of service. Having cash available will help buy essential goods when needed.