Local Students Participate In Full-Scale Earthquake Drill

At 10:21a.m. Thursday, 800 Gerald Ford Elementary students along with an estimated 7.1 million people across the Golden State participated in the 2010 California Great Shake Out. The large-scale earthquake plan is based on the destruction from a 7.8 earthquake.

The students were told to duck, cover and hold on. Minutes later teachers evacuated the kids to the playground. Dema Timchemko, a 5th Grader, at the school said, “It’s realistic, it gets us ready if an earthquake comes.”

Minutes later Kim McGrath, a 5th Grade teacher at Gerald Ford Elementary evacuates her classroom.

The drill even included students pretending to be injured. Teachers on the school’s search and rescue team went into the classrooms and rescued five students unaccounted for. Some had borken arms, some legs. They were taken to the first aid area on stretchers.

“It’s exciting but scary, especially if you have students that are lost”, said Madeline Wallace, a 5th grader at Gerald Ford Elementary School in Indian Wells.

Thursday’s Great ShakeOut is a reminder to be earthquake ready. Experts suggest having enough food and water for each person for 14 days. A gallon of water per day is suggested.

As soon as you feel an earthquake, you should drop, cover and hold on. Blake Goetz, Palm Springs Fire Chief said, “If you get one thats a 7 or 8, it’s going to shake so hard you can’t walk or stand.” So long as you’re down there, you might as well hold on”, Goetz said.

Palm Desert city officials will held a disaster preparedness forum at City Hall. During the forum experts with the gas and water companies gave residents tips for staying safe after the ground stops shaking.

The gas companie say only turn off the natual gas if you know you have a leak. You’ll be able to smell in the air. If it’s not leaking, keep it on.

Water companies say conserve water. You may be without running water for days.