GLENDALE—On Thursday, Chamlian Armenian School participated in the Great Southern California ShakeOut Drill, the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history.
The Great ShakeOut was based on a potential earthquake of 7.8 magnitude—larger than the 1994 Northridge earthquake that had a magnitude of 6.7. Dr. Lucy Jones of the U.S. Geological Survey has led a group of over 300 scientists, engineers, and others to study the likely consequences of this potential earthquake in great details. The result is the ShakeOut Earthquake Scenario.
The planning stages for the ShakeOut Drill had been in the works for a few weeks. With resources from the project’s website, Chamlian successfully participated in the earthquake drill along with 9.5 million people in California, and more than 18 million people around the world, to practice how to be safe in case of an earthquake. Students, faculty and staff dropped, covered, and held on until the simulated shaking stopped, after which they proceeded to evacuate the classrooms and office buildings. The facility was then checked to make sure that it was safe for re-entry.
Great ShakeOut earthquake drills are an important part of Chamlian’s Emergency Preparedness procedures, serving as a good opportunity to practice how to be safe during earthquakes.