Here at Orem High we are not prepared for any type of disaster. The only type of drill we ever have here are fire drills, and no one ever takes them serious. Here in utah county along the wasatch front, we are at a great risk of earthquakes. However, we do not have earthquake drills.
Last year there was a lock down. A man had robbed a bank near by. When the lockdown started, it was lunch time. Everyone was told to go back to their third period class. Students were walking across to seminary and walking leisurely back to class. In some classes people were just hanging out and listening to music. If a shooter had came into the school it would have been a tragedy.
It is this type of disorder that could greatly affect our school. If there was this much disorder during a lockdown, what’s to stop it from happening if there is an earthquake?
There is a 44.53% chance of a 5.0 magnitude earthquake happening in Orem Utah. With this great of a risk, why aren’t we trying to prepare?
We are told that our building is “earthquake proof.” What does that mean? How big of an earthquake would it take to do damage to our school?
Earthquake resistant buildings are built to withstand the largest probable earthquake in the area. What that means is that the building is built to prevent collapsing.
While these precautions are great, they won’t mean much without our student body and faculty being prepared. If we do not have a plan in order, it will be kaos. Students will be running through the halls and scrambling to get under something.
Just imagine if it were to take place during lunch! Students don’t even know when they are to go outside.
It is up to us as a school to prepare ourselves for this. We need to create a plan, and have drills to ensure everyone knows what to do when an earthquake occurs.
Britney Call
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