By Aasima Ali
Beggining Journalism Student
Nowhere but California would teens rehearse their apocalypse – and be told to leave their phones behind.
At 10:16 a.m. on Oct. 16, Principal Dr. Huynh signaled the start of the Great ShakeOut, a statewide drill launched in 2008 to prepare Californians for “the Big One” – the long-anticipated quake along the San Andreas or Cascadia fault.
Every year, Costa joins more than 19,700 K-12 schools and districts in reminding Californians to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”. According to ShakeOut.org, the annual earthquake drill is meant to test preparedness each year in memory of the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. However, for many, it seemed to test patience more than readiness.
“We had to get down below our gum-filled desks, which was gross. Then to the field where we were just sitting for like a thousand years,” sophomore Ganga Thai said. “The real emergency was me realizing I actually had to talk to people. It was less a drill and more how long I could last without my phone. I regret not sneaking it.”
Although she wasn’t present at the drill, French 2 Teacher Arpine Vardazaryan viewed it differently, saying it’s an important learning experience. “I think it’s still a great opportunity to learn how to behave and act when there’s a disaster,” Vardazaryan said. “It’s a good educational opportunity for you to be aware.”
Students filled their assigned zones, where structure quickly dissolved into clusters of friends and hidden phones. Some teachers say that chaos is part of the lesson as real emergencies rarely go to plan.
This year’s drill also tested Costa’s hard phone policy to leave devices behind in classrooms. For many, this raised questions on how realistic the drill really was.
“What if I want to talk to my mom and see if she’s safe?” said sophomore Liberty Wooliscroft. “It’s so weird to practice while ignoring the one thing we’d actually all use to check the news.”
Despite the boredom and a few grass-stained jeans, the drill ultimately served its purpose. The next day’s surprise fire alarm evacuation demonstrated the necessity of such procedures. Practice might not make perfect, but at Costa, it’s definitely making progress.
Leave a Reply