Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High Schools to Participate in 2022 Great California Shakeout Earthquake Drill
Los Gatos, October 18, 2022: Los Gatos High School and Saratoga High School will participate in the Great California Shakeout Earthquake Drill this Thursday, October 20, 2022 and Friday, October 21, 2022, along with millions of people worldwide. The Great Shakeout is a day of individual and community events featuring the largest earthquake drill ever, organized to inspire people to get ready for big earthquakes. For Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District, this will be a traditional earthquake drill that will include preparing for and practicing how to react and respond in an actual earthquake.
The County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors has proclaimed this Thursday, October 20, 2022, as Earthquake Readiness Day, and encourages community members to participate in the drill from wherever they may be as earthquakes occur without warning.
“These types of emergency drills are so important for our schools and it gives families an opportunity to talk about their own family emergency plan at home,” shares Bill W. Sanderson, Superintendent of Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District. “This, in addition to other safety drills and trainings performed on our school campuses, strengthens our community’s resilience to ensure we are prepared and ready should these emergencies ever occur.”
The Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management shares the following tips for families to prepare to be earthquake ready:
- Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items such as furniture and other heavy objects to avoid injuries and damage.
- Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency. Where will you meet your family? How will you get to work? Do you know how to perform CPR or use a fire extinguisher?
- Organize disaster supplies by packing Go Bags and an emergency supply kit for when you may be required to evacuate immediately.
- Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.
- Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On so that you know what to do when an earthquake strikes.
- Improve safety after earthquakes by evacuating, helping the injured if possible, and being ready for aftershocks.
- Reconnect and restore by checking in with family, friends, and neighbors, repairing damage, and rebuilding your community.
For more information on earthquake preparedness, visit www.PrepareSCC.org/Earthquake.