ShakeOutDrillManualSchools_v2

ShakeOut Drill Manual
For K-12 Schools
Are You Ready to ShakeOut?

Major earthquakes can cause unprecedented catastrophes. With earthquakes as an inevitable part of
our future, schools should make plans and take actions to ensure that disasters do not become
catastrophes. What we do now, will determine what our lives will be like afterwards. The principles
practiced here will apply to many other hazards. Schools also need to be prepared fire, flood,
hazardous materials release, and pandemics. With this in mind, the Earthquake Country Alliance
(www.EarthquakeCountry.org) created the Great California ShakeOut, an earthquake drill and
preparedness activity in which everyone can participate, which has now spread to many other states
and regions. To register as a participant for a ShakeOut drill in your area visit www.ShakeOut.org.
Districts and individual schools of all sizes can also use the drill to get their staff, students, and parents
involved and prepared for a big earthquake. Furthermore, the level of staff and students’ personal and
family preparedness will be key to their availability to support your school’s response and recovery
efforts after a disaster.
Although they were created for ShakeOut drill events across the nation, the instructions on the following
pages can be used or adapted for earthquake drills anywhere and anytime. The following drill
guidelines are designed for schools and each drill uses the general earthquake response of Drop,
Cover, and Hold On (www.EarthquakeCountry.org/step5) as its foundation. To be flexible, the following
pages provide four options for drill designs ranging from simple (Level 1) to advanced (Level 4), each
with steps to be taken before, during, and after the drill. Going forward, your district or school can
customize and build a drill that suits your specific needs.
Drills for Schools

Level 1 – Simple: Drop, Cover, and Hold On Drill and Building Evacuation ........................ Page 2
This standard drill and evacuation uses simple steps to inform all teachers and students how to
perform Drop, Cover, and Hold On – a quake-safe action designed to protect lives and prevent
injuries from falling furniture and flying objects than can become projectiles during ground
shaking. Teachers and students will then evacuate the building according to the school disaster
plan, as required for a quarterly or semi-annual earthquake safety drill.
Level 2 – Basic: Life Safety Drill ............................................................................................... Page 4

This life safety drill is designed to engage students, teachers, staff, and administration to think
through their emergency response actions during the drill, then afterwards to review and discuss
risk reduction and response measures in order to make changes for the next earthquake or drill.
Level 3 – Intermediate: Decision-Making Table Top Drill ....................................................... Page 7

This decision-making drill is designed to have designated teachers, staff, administration and
parents think through more complex issues related to school operations in the immediate
aftermath of this earthquake, then afterwards to review and discuss what worked or what did not
in order to make changes for the next earthquake or drill. Older students may be included.
Level 4 – Advanced: School Standard Emergency Management Simulation Drill ............ Page 10
This school drill involves the whole school and implementation of the School Emergency Plan. It
focuses on activation of the full response system. Since all school workers are emergency
workers, both trained and untrained personnel practice emergency response duties. The drill
incorporates decision-making, response, life safety aspects, and then a review afterwards to
discuss what worked or what did not in order to make changes for the next earthquake or drill.
School Drills Preparedness Supplement ............................................................................... Page 16
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For K-12 Schools
Level 1 – Simple: Drop, Cover, and Hold On Drill and Building Evacuation
BEFORE the Drill
1. If you will participate in a ShakeOut drill, register your School as an official participant at
www.ShakeOut.org (make sure to register in your state or region).
2. Instruct your teachers in how to lead their classes in the drill, including:
□ The date & time of your Drill
□ How to correctly perform Drop, Cover, and Hold On, wherever teacher and/or students are.
o This includes dropping to the floor (to prevent falling), making yourself as small a
target as possible, and protecting your head, neck and chest by taking cover under a
sturdy desk or table or near an interior wall, covering your head your hands and
arms.
o Adapt these procedures for anyone who cannot take this position, and for anyone in
any unique locations, including outdoors.
□ Your expectations for class participation (ie. Drop, Cover, and Hold On; follow evacuation
procedures to selected safe location; gather at a central location for a head count; post-drill
discussions).
□ If you will be participating in a ShakeOut drill, encourage students’ families to register at
www.ShakeOut.org, in their region, so they can invite others and get information directly.
□ (Optional) Download realistic sound effects and safety information to play during your drill by
downloading recordings from www.ShakeOut.org/resources.
DURING the Drill

1. Via the public announcement (PA) system, alarms, or verbal direction (in the event of a real
earthquake your signal will be the beginning of shaking itself):
□ Announce that the earthquake drill has begun and to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
□ (Optional) Play the audio recording (see above) on your PA or, alternatively, play it on a
computer in each classroom.
□ Suggest that while dropping under a sturdy desk or table, students and teachers look
around at what would be falling on them in a real earthquake. These items should be
secured or moved after the drill.
2. If not using audio tape for sound effects, then after at least one minute, announce that the shaking
is over
3. Based upon your school disaster plan, have teachers, students and staff follow school evacuation
procedures according to the school disaster plan.
4. If an aftershock occurs while you are exiting, Drop, Cover, and Hold On until the shaking stops.
□ When the shaking has stopped (or when the all clear bell rings) IMMEDIATELY and before
you exit your room take ten seconds to look around, make a mental note of damage and
dangers, check to see if any students are injured. If immediate help can be given to open
airway, stop serious bleeding, or put out a small fire do so. Ask responsible students to
assist lightly injured. Non-ambulatory injured should be reassured and wait for treatment
where they are, unless it is more dangerous to remain.
5. Take your classroom Roll book and your Emergency Go Bag or Bucket (including your Emergency
Notebook). Make sure these stay with the person actually escorting the class to the Emergency
Assembly Area (EAA).
6. Use the BUDDY SYSTEM. Classes should exit in pairs with one teacher in front and one in the
back. Take a few seconds to check briefly with the teacher in the classroom to the left, to the right,
and across the hall to see if they are in need.
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For K-12 Schools
Level 1 – Simple: Drop, Cover, and Hold On Drill and Building Evacuation (con’t)
In the absence of a teaching assistant, be prepared to take a class of a colleague while that teacher
assists with any injuries or in the duties assigned to them. Escort your class(es) to their designated
place in the EAA.
□ Use the suggested routes on your evacuation map or alternate route if yours is blocked or
unsafe.
□ Everyone is to stay together and to quickly and quietly evacuate following the 4 Evacuation
Rules. : Don’t Talk! Don’t Push! Don’t run! Don’t turn back!
□ Select two responsible monitors to lead, carefully checking that the evacuation route is
clear. You bring up the rear, seeing that everyone is together.
□ Check that exit routes are clear. Move directly away from the building when exiting. Children
should cover their heads with their bag or book. Do NOT use any elevators.
7. Include experiential activities for students in the course of your drill. This is a teaching/learning
moment!
8. Encourage students and teachers to discuss their experiences with one another.
AFTER the Drill

1. Debrief together in your classes and staff meetings. Ask for feedback on how the drill went.
2. Review your School Disaster Preparedness Plan and schedule your next quarterly (primary
schools) or biannual (secondary schools) earthquake drill.
3. If you participated in a ShakeOut drill, complete a post-ShakeOut survey if one is available on your
ShakeOut region’s website.
4. Share photos and stories at www.ShakeOut.org
5. Encourage employees to be prepared to survive and recover at home by following the Seven Steps
to Safety at www.EarthquakeCountry.org/sevensteps.
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For K-12 Schools
Level 2 – Basic: Life Safety Drill

This drill focuses on immediate life safety and engages students, teachers and staff to think through
their emergency response actions during an earthquake.
BEFORE the Drill

2. Instruct your teachers in how to lead their classes in the drill:
□ The date & time of the Drill
arms.
□ Your expectations for class participation (i.e. Drop, Cover, and Hold On; follow evacuation
procedures to selected safe location; post-drill discussions).
□ If you are participating in a ShakeOut drill, encourage students’ families to register at
3. (Optional) Download realistic sound effects and safety information to play during your drill by
downloading recordings from www.ShakeOut.org/resources
4. Steps or Questions to Consider:
□ Determine or review your emergency procedures for an earthquake.
□ How will you direct students, teachers, and staff during and immediately following the
shaking?
o Consider that certain that factors (your location, building type, impacts) will influence
your decisions regarding what to do after the earthquake (i.e. what evacuation routes
to use). Safety must be the first priority, so carefully assess the environment inside
and outside of your facility before deciding.
o If your facility is in a coastal area, consider whether or not you will need to have
plans to evacuate to higher ground.
□ Identify who is authorized to make and communicate post-earthquake decisions.
□ How will you utilize teachers and staff personnel for earthquakes especially if the school
building cannot be immediately reoccupied?
5. Distribute ShakeOut posters/flyers to encourage employees, volunteers, students, etc, to take part.
6. Create a brief written description of the earthquake’s impact along with questions to ponder during
the drill. For ideas, review the 2008 San Andreas scenario at www.ShakeOut.org/scenario.
The Night Before the Drill
1. Tape this description under teacher desks or provide teachers and staff sealed envelopes to open
during the drill.
□ For added incentive, tape a surprise under the desk (candy, light stick, lunch coupons, etc.)
DURING the Drill:
1. Via your public announcement system, alarm or verbal direction (in the event of a real earthquake
your signal will be the beginning of shaking itself):
□ Announce that the earthquake drill has begun and strong shaking could last one minute.
□ Remind everyone to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
computer in each classroom.
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For K-12 Schools
Level 2 – Basic: Life Safety Drill (con’t)

□ Suggest that while dropping under a sturdy desk or table, teachers and students look
around at what would be falling on them in a real earthquake, and should be secured or
moved after the drill.
2. If not using audio tape for sound effects, then after at least one minute, announce that the shaking
is over.
3. Based upon your school disaster plan, have teachers, students, and staff follow school evacuation
procedures according to the school disaster plan.
and across the hall to see if they are in need. Escort your class(es) to their designated place in the
EAA.
□ Use the suggested routes on your evacuation map or alternate route if yours is blocked or
unsafe.
Rules: Don’t Talk! Don’t Push! Don’t run! Don’t turn back!
moment!
AFTER the Drill

1. Debrief together in your classes and staff meetings. Discuss lessons learned from the drill with
students in each class.
2. Hold a debriefing session with faculty and staff. Take this opportunity to:
□ Discuss whether you met your drill objectives or why not.
□ What went well and what are causes for concern.
□ Share lessons learned from the drill or real experiences. Document good practices and
measures to improve procedures and training.
□ Discuss preparedness at school and at home. Remind all staff that home/family
preparedness is important given that they may need to remain on campus until all students
are picked up.
3. Review your School Disaster Preparedness Plan. Update your plan with lessons learned from the
drill or any real experiences.
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Level 2 – Basic: Life Safety Drill (con’t)
□ Discuss your safety and classroom instruction resumption priorities.

□ Determine next steps, confirm team responsibilities and assign people to those tasks to
follow-up.
□ Schedule training as needed to address plan changes.
□ Schedule your next quarterly (primary schools) or biannual (secondary schools) earthquake
drill and your annual or biannual full simulation drill.
5. Share your stories and photos at www.ShakeOut.org
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For K-12 Schools
Level 3 – Intermediate: Decision-making Drill

This drill includes all aspects of Level 2 in terms of teacher, student and staff participation in a Drop,
Cover, Hold On drill, and adds a “table top” exercise for decision makers to consider how the
earthquake would impact your school.
BEFORE the Drill

2. Bring together your school disaster preparedness team - including representatives from the school
staff, teachers school board, parent associations, and if appropriate, older students - to design the
drill.
3. Determine the length of your drill and objectives.
□ What you would like your drill to test? The objectives and resulting drill can test a specific
part of your school disaster plan.
4. (Optional) Download realistic sound effects and safety information to play during your drill by
downloading recordings from www.ShakeOut.org/resources
5. Review the 2008 Southern San Andreas scenario at www.ShakeOut.org/scenario for examples of
earthquake impacts. Have your team build upon it to develop your own “school scenario” for your
area with specific details of how you might expect the shaking to impact your school or district (i.e.
building, operations, students, parents).
□ Would the power be out? Phone communications down? Many parents unable to pick up
children?
□ How will you direct teachers, students, and staff during and immediately following the
shaking?
o Consider that certain factors (your location, building type, impacts) will influence your
decisions regarding what to do after the earthquake (i.e. what evacuation routes to
use). Safety must be the first priority, so carefully assess the environment inside and
outside of your facility before deciding.
o Identify who is authorized to make and communicate post-earthquake decisions.
o How will you utilize teachers and staff personnel for earthquakes especially if the
school building cannot be immediately reoccupied?
□ Make sure the impacts you determine for your “school scenario” make it possible to support
your drill objectives. (Be realistic but do not go overboard. It may be necessary for some
schools to consider significant damage to their school building to support their drill
objectives and realistic shaking impacts).
6. Invite your key school community decision-makers and parent representatives to your drill. Have
them review your school disaster plan prior to the drill.
7. Instruct your teachers in how to lead their classes in drill:
□ The date and time of your drill.
arms.
□ Your expectations for class participation (i.e. Drop, Cover, and Hold On; follow evacuation
procedures to selected safe location; post-drill discussions).
□ If this is a ShakeOut drill, encourage students’ families to register at www.ShakeOut.org, in
their region, so they can invite others and get information directly.
□ Practice Student Release Drill with selected classes, sending parents notice 10 days in
advance to invite their voluntary participation.
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For K-12 Schools
Level 3 – Intermediate: Decision-making Drill (con’t)
8. Plan experiential activities for students in the course of your drill. This is an important
teaching/learning opportunity!
9. Write up a final version of your “school scenario.” Create a brief written description of the
earthquake’s impact using your “school scenario” along with some questions for teachers and
students to consider.
The Night BEFORE the Drill
during the drill.
□ For added incentive, tape a surprise under the desk (candy, light stick, lunch coupons, etc.).
DURING the Drill:

1. Have your school’s scenario team assemble (representatives from the teachers, staff, school board,
parent associations, and if appropriate, older students) in a room a few minutes before the drill and
share your drill objectives. When the drill is announced be sure that all participants in this group
also Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
2. Via your public announcement (PA) system, alarm, or verbal direction (in the event of a real
earthquake your signal will be the beginning of shaking itself):
□ Remind everyone to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
computer in each office.
□ Suggest that while dropping under a sturdy desk or table, teachers, students, and staff look
3. If not using audio tape for sound effects, then after one minute, announce that the shaking is over
and have teachers, students and staff follow school evacuation procedures according to the school
disaster plan.
Assembly Area (EAA). Set up student release/reunification gates.
and across the hall to see if they are in need. In the absence of a teaching assistant, be prepared to
take a class of a colleague while that teacher assists with any injuries or in the duties assigned to
them. Escort your class(es) to their designated place in the EAA.
□ Use the suggested routes on your evacuation map or alternate route if yours if blocked or
unsafe.
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For K-12 Schools
Rules: Don’t Talk! Don’t Push! Don’t run! Don’t turn back! Select two responsible
monitors to lead, carefully checking that the evacuation route is clear. You bring up the rear,
seeing that everyone is together.
moment! (See www.fema.gov/kids/)
As soon as possible after the drill:

1. Debrief. Discuss lessons learned from the drill with students in each class, and in departmental and
staff meetings.
2. Assemble the School Disaster Preparedness or safety committee and scenario team and share
your observations.
□ Review what happened, what could happen, decisions made, what worked well, and what
problems arose.
□ Try to have the discussion flow in chronological order.
□ Assess your scenario for realism. How could you make it more realistic next time?
3. Discuss and revise your school emergency preparedness plan.
□ If all issues are solved, move the scenario timeline forward to 1 hour/ 1 day/ 1 week later
and begin the discussion again.
□ Identify measures you can take to reduce the impact of an expected earthquake, and to
minimize disruption of education.
4. Document the chronology of the drill events, decisions, issues, and any solutions. What policy
decisions need to be made in advance? Discuss in particular:
□ Communication with parents.
□ Communications officer responsibilities for communication with media.
□ Emergency contact lists, supervision and student release procedures.
□ Maps posted clearly and accurately showing normal evacuation routes and assembly areas.
□ Disaster staffing duties (and exceptions for some with young children).
□ Faculty and staff knowledge and skills for their emergency response roles and gaps to be
filled.
□ Layout of utility lines and shut-off valves on campus.
□ Non-structural safety measures (securing things that can fall and slide) that still need to be
taken at school.
□ Inventory of emergency equipment and supplies.
□ Designated command post and staging areas off campus if necessary.
□ If you are near the coast whether you have a safe assembly point and evacuation plan.
□ Adequacy of emergency first aid supplies, food, water, shelter provision and distribution.
□ Fire suppression equipment location, function, and skills.
AFTER the Drill
1. Did you meet your drill objectives? Discuss what happened, people’s experiences during the drill,
what caused concern, and what worked well. Document comments to officially end the drill.
2. Check into the safety of your school buildings
□ Do you have any concrete tilt-up or buildings with non-wood-frame walls that were built
before 1978 have not been upgraded to meet the 1976 Uniform Building Code?
□ If you are in a private school in a building not designed to be a school, has it been upgraded
to meet the standards for school construction?
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For K-12 Schools

□ Do you have any portable buildings that are not attached firmly to the ground?
□ Have you used modernization opportunities to increase the earthquake safety of buildings?
3. Decide next steps and assign people to those tasks to follow-up.

□ Continue to discuss your safety and classroom instruction resumption priorities.
o Confirm team responsible to review and continue developing your disaster plan.
o Update your plan with lessons learned from the drill or any real experiences.
□ Discuss preparedness at work and at home. Remind all staff that home/family preparedness
is important given that they may need to remain on campus until all students are picked up.
drill (or sooner if teachers and students need to practice).
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For K-12 Schools
Level 4 – Advanced: School Standard Emergency Management Simulation Drill
This drill includes all aspects of Level 2 in terms of teacher and student participation in a Drop, Cover,
Hold On drill, and is an exercise for designated response personnel who have specific emergency
response duties in your school disaster plan. Whereas Level 3 is a “table-top” exercise for decision-
makers to imagine potential consequences and solutions, this level involves simulated incidents that
test your school’s ability to respond and recover.
BEFORE the Drill

2. Bring together your school disaster preparedness team - including representatives from the school
staff, teachers school board, parent associations, and if appropriate, older students - to design the
drill.
3. Determine the length of your drill, its scope, and objectives.
4. Learn about potential earthquakes for your area and use your team to develop a tailored “school
scenario” with specific details of how the shaking might impact your school or district (i.e. building,
operations, students, parents). For ideas, review the scenario (one of several possible scenarios) at
www.ShakeOut.org/scenario.
□ Would the power be out? Are roads open or closed? Is the phone system down? Cell
phones? What structural damage has occurred to your building? What non-structural
damage has occurred inside to your computers, equipment, machinery, furniture, lights,
filing, inventory, computers, windows, systems? How will you communicate with district
offices? Emergency responders? Parents? Community members seeking shelter? Etc.
□ How will you direct students during and immediately following the shaking?
o Consider that certain factors (your location, building type, impacts) will influence your
decisions regarding what to do after the earthquake (i.e. what evacuation routes to
use and where to have students congregate). Safety must be the first priority, so
carefully assess the environment inside and outside of your facility before deciding.
o Make sure your plan identifies the personnel authorized to determine and
communicate post-earthquake decisions.
o How will you utilize teachers and staff personnel for earthquakes especially if the
school building cannot be immediately reoccupied?
□ Make sure the impacts you determine for your “school scenario” make it possible to support
your drill objectives. (Be realistic but do not go overboard. It may be necessary for some
schools to consider significant damage to their school building to support their drill
objectives and realistic shaking impacts).
5. Invite your key school community decision-makers and parent representatives to your drill. Have
them review your school disaster plan prior to the drill.
6. Select a facilitator to lead the drill. Determine other staffing requirements such as assigning
personnel to evaluate and document all drill activities in chronological order.
7. Write up a final version of your “school scenario.”
8. Conduct training of all drill participants and back-ups, who are assigned emergency positions so
they are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities. Review your incident command procedures
that will be carried out at your school. All participants, evaluators and decision-makers should
review the disaster plan.
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Level 4 – Advanced: School Standard Emergency Management Simulation Drill (con’t)

9. Create a Timeline for your drill and provide this to teachers and staff.
□ 00:00:00 – Earthquake starts, teachers, students and staff Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
□ 00:00:30 – Lights go out and computers go down
□ 00:01:00 – Sprinklers on SE corner of first floor turn on
□ Etc.
10. Separately from the timeline, create a list of “injected events”. “Injects” are surprise events that
could reasonably occur during the drill (i.e. aftershocks, specific problems related to your school).
These events will be “injected” (or provided) to the participants during the drill to get participants
thinking of issues and solutions without overwhelming them.
11. Instruct your teachers in how to lead their classes in drill:

□ The date & time of the drill
arms.
□ Your expectations for class participation. This may include playing a role such as a “drill
injured” that will need medical assistance.
□ If this will be a ShakeOut drill, encourage students’ families to register as individuals at
□ Practice a Student Release Drill with selected classes; sending parents notice 10 days in
advance to invite their voluntary participation.
12. Write up a final version of your “school scenario.” Create a brief written description of the
earthquake’s impact using your “school scenario” along with some questions for teachers and
students to consider. Prepare description for each room, adding first injects to the note.
The Night BEFORE the Drill

during the drill.
□ For added incentive, tape a surprise under the desk (candy, light stick, lunch coupons, etc.).
DURING the Drill:

1. Have your school’s scenario team assemble (representatives from the teachers, staff, school board,
parent associations, and if appropriate, older students) in a room a few minutes before the drill and
share your drill objectives. When the drill is announced be sure that all participants in this group
also Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
2. Via your public announcement system, alarm or verbal direction:
□ Tell everyone to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
□ Suggest that while dropping under a sturdy desk or table, teachers and students look
3. If not using audiotape for sound effects, then after one minute, announce that the shaking is over
and have teachers, students and staff follow school evacuation procedures according to the school
disaster plan.
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For K-12 Schools
6. Use the BUDDY SYSTEM. Take a few seconds to check briefly with the teacher in the classroom to
the left, to the right, and across the hall to see if they are in need. In the absence of a teaching
assistant, be prepared to take a class of a colleague while that teacher assists with any injuries or in
the duties assigned to them. Escort your class(es) to their designated place in the EAA.
□ Use the suggested routes on your evacuation map or alternate route if yours if blocked or
unsafe.
Rules: Don’t Talk! Don’t Push! Don’t run! Don’t turn back!
7. Take your seat in your assigned area, keeping classes separate and take roll. Check again for
injuries. If any students are injured, send them with two buddies to the First Aid station, with
instructions to return together immediately.
8. Completely fill out the INJURED/MISSING STATUS REPORT FORM and return to the Assembly
Area Recorder for delivery to the Incident Command Center (ICC).
□ If any students were present in class, but are now absent, please list those names below as
well. If all students are accounted for, this step is not necessary.
9. If you are a member of the Search and Rescue Team proceed to the Incident Command Center.
10. All personnel without a specific duty or class are to immediately report to the ICC for Instructions.
All teaching assistants and campus aides who do not have a class are to report immediately to the
assembly area to assist with the supervision of students.
11. Teachers are to remain with their class AT ALL TIMES. Students must remain seated together as a
class throughout the duration of the drill. Periodically call roll as needed. Keep students quiet so
that they can hear information from the public address or megaphone/bullhorn system which will be
used for announcements.
□ Children are to leave only in the company of Reunion gate messengers. The ICC will
provide updates and relieve staff of their assignments.
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For K-12 Schools
12. If the students will not be leaving the school premises, when given the “all clear”, escort the
students back into the classroom.
13. As the drill progresses distribute individual “inject events” to specific participants. Have drill
evaluators observe and document how these surprise issues are handled.
14. Plan experiential activities for students in the course of your drill. This is an important
teaching/learning opportunity! (See www.fema.gov/kids/)
As soon as possible after the drill:

1. Discuss lessons learned from the drill with students in each class, and in departmental and staff
meetings.
2. Assemble the School Disaster Preparedness or safety committee, facilitator, and evaluators with
their documentation and share your observations.
□ Review what happened, what could happen, decisions made, what worked well, and what
problems arose.
□ To make the impact vivid, you may wish to show the movie of shaking that can be expected,
which is available at www.ShakeOut.org/resources.
□ Try to have the discussion flow in chronological order.
□ Assess your scenario for realism. How could you make it more realistic next time?
3. Discuss and revise your school emergency preparedness plan.
□ If all issues are solved, move the scenario timeline forward to 1 hour/ 1 day/ 1 week later
and begin the discussion again.
□ Identify measures you can take to reduce the impact of an expected earthquake, and to
minimize disruption of education.
4. Document the chronology of the drill events, decisions, issues, and any solutions. What policy
decisions need to be made in advance?
Discuss in particular
□ Communication with parents.
□ Communications officer responsibilities for communication with media.
□ Emergency contact lists, supervision, and student release procedures.
□ Maps posted clearly and accurately showing normal evacuation routes and assembly areas.
□ Disaster staffing duties (and exceptions for some with young children).
□ Faculty and staff knowledge and skills for their emergency response roles and gaps to be
filled.
□ Layout of utility lines and shut-off valves on campus.
□ Non-structural safety measures (securing things that can fall and slide) that still need to be
taken at school.
□ Inventory of emergency equipment and supplies.
□ Designated command post and staging areas off campus if necessary, and transportation.
□ If you are near the coast whether you have a safe assembly point and evacuation plan.
□ Adequacy of emergency first aid supplies, food, water, shelter provision and distribution.
□ Fire suppression equipment location, function and skills.
AFTER the Drill

1. Debrief together in your classes and staff meetings. Did you meet your drill objectives? Discuss
what happened, people’s experience during the drill, what caused concern, and what worked well.
Document comments to officially end the drill.
2. Check into the safety of your school buildings
□ Do you have any concrete tilt-up or buildings with non-wood-frame walls that were built
before 1978 have not been upgraded to meet the 1976 Uniform Building Code?
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For K-12 Schools

□ If you are in a private school in a building not designed to be a school, has it been upgraded
to meet the standards for school construction.
□ Do you have any portable buildings that are not attached firmly to the ground?
□ Have you used modernization opportunities to increase earthquake safety of buildings?
3. Decide next steps and assign people to those tasks to follow-up.
□ Continue to discuss your safety and classroom instruction resumption priorities.
o Confirm team responsible to review and continue developing your disaster plan.
o Update your plan with lessons learned from the drill or any real experiences.
□ Discuss preparedness at work and at home. Remind all staff that home/family preparedness
is important given that they may need to remain on campus until all students are picked up.
drill (or sooner if teachers and students need to practice).
6. Encourage teachers and students to prepare at home using the 7 Steps to Safety from “Putting
Down Roots in Earthquake Country” (see www.earthquakecountry.org/sevensteps).
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For K-12 Schools
SCHOOL DRILLS PREPAREDNESS SUPPLEMENT
Teachers and Staff - Prepare yourself

1. Check that the School Emergency Evacuation Route map is posted in your room. On it mark your
room clearly in a contrasting color. If you do not have a copy, please obtain one from the school
office.
2. Check that the contents of your Emergency Go-Bag or Bucket and that it hangs prominently in your
classroom using the Emergency Go-Bag & Notebook Checklist. The Emergency Folder contains
information that you or your substitute would need should there be a drill or an actual emergency.
3. Classroom teachers may consider keeping a blanket, supply of bottled water, non-perishable food
or snacks and other supplies in your room in the event an emergency requires a sustained lock-
down. A bucket and plastic bags makes an emergency toilet.
4. Be prepared to buddy with neighboring class so that one teacher is at front and one at back of the
two class group. Be sure that you know your duties once classes are assembled. If your name does
not appear on the emergency organization plan and if you do not have a class, report to the
Incident Command Center (ICC). Do not leave the campus
5. Check that you know the location of your fire extinguisher and recall the acronym to remind you
how to use it: P.A.S.S.: Pull the pin. Aim at the base of the fire. Squeeze the handle. Sweep at the
base of the fire.
6. It is highly recommended that you complete your own Family Disaster Plan at home and your plan
with your own childcare providers.
7. Plan both experiential learning activities to make use of the drill, and quiet learning activities that
students can do in the assembly area in the event of a real emergency.
Prepare your Students

1. Encourage your students to take this drill very seriously.
2. Practice a “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” drill, having students hold their position for 1 minute. You
may count together: one-one hundred, two one-hundred, etc.
□ Drop down to knees and make yourselves small.
□ Cover your face, head and neck, closing your eyes. Keep your body under or below level of
desk/table/chairs, with your back to windows.
□ If outside, get clear of buildings, power lines, trees, light poles and other dangers, drop down
to your knees and cover your head and neck.
□ Plan for adaptations for students with disabilities.
16
For K-12 Schools
SCHOOL DRILLS PREPAREDNESS SUPPLEMENT (con’t)
3. Make sure that your students know the 4 rules for building evacuation: Don’t Talk! Don’t Push!
Don’t run! Don’t turn back! Students should know that if there is an earthquake when they are
outside of a classroom (during break or lunch or if they are somewhere), they should exit with the
nearest class and should NOT go back inside. If they are between classes, they should assemble in
the outdoor emergency assembly area with their next period class.
4. Teacher in science labs and workshops should demonstrate to students how to extinguish any
flames and isolate any hazardous materials in use.
5. Review the Emergency Evacuation Routes. Prepare monitors to assist teachers. (This is of most
importance for classes on second floor or without easy access to open space outdoors).
6. Inform students that only their parent(s), guardian(s), or other adult(s) listed on their Emergency
Card will be allowed to pick them up from school in a real emergency. Explain the “Request Gate” /
“Reunion Gate” idea and reasons.
Prepare your Parents

1. Make sure that all parents have the critical information needed to be of help and not hindrance
during a real emergency.
□ Explain the importance of the reunification procedures.
□ Confirm that their Emergency Contact Form is up-to-date
□ Reassure parents that the school has a plan to take care of students & staff and will not
release them to anyone not approved by them
2. Include parents in your drills.
3. Optional – offer emergency preparedness information evenings for parents – bring in guest speaker
from local emergency mgmt office and vendors display & sell emergency supplies.
17

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ShakeOut Drill Manual

For K-12 Schools

Are You Ready to ShakeOut?

Drills for Schools

Level 2 – Basic: Life Safety Drill ............................................................................................... Page 4

Level 3 – Intermediate: Decision-Making Table Top Drill ....................................................... Page 7

School Drills Preparedness Supplement ............................................................................... Page 16

DURING the Drill

AFTER the Drill

Level 2 – Basic: Life Safety Drill

BEFORE the Drill

Level 2 – Basic: Life Safety Drill (con’t)

AFTER the Drill

Level 2 – Basic: Life Safety Drill (con’t)

□ Discuss your safety and classroom instruction resumption priorities.

5. Share your stories and photos at www.ShakeOut.org

Level 3 – Intermediate: Decision-making Drill

BEFORE the Drill

Level 3 – Intermediate: Decision-making Drill (con’t)

The Night BEFORE the Drill

DURING the Drill:

Level 3 – Intermediate: Decision-making Drill (con’t)

As soon as possible after the drill:

Level 3 – Intermediate: Decision-making Drill (con’t)

3. Decide next steps and assign people to those tasks to follow-up.

5. Share your stories and photos at www.ShakeOut.org

Level 4 – Advanced: School Standard Emergency Management Simulation Drill

BEFORE the Drill

Level 4 – Advanced: School Standard Emergency Management Simulation Drill (con’t)

11. Instruct your teachers in how to lead their classes in drill:

The Night BEFORE the Drill

DURING the Drill:

Level 4 – Advanced: School Standard Emergency Management Simulation Drill (con’t)

Level 4 – Advanced: School Standard Emergency Management Simulation Drill (con’t)

As soon as possible after the drill:

AFTER the Drill

Level 4 – Advanced: School Standard Emergency Management Simulation Drill (con’t)

5. Share your stories and photos at www.ShakeOut.org

SCHOOL DRILLS PREPAREDNESS SUPPLEMENT

Teachers and Staff - Prepare yourself

Prepare your Students

SCHOOL DRILLS PREPAREDNESS SUPPLEMENT (con’t)

Prepare your Parents

2. Include parents in your drills.

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