By Lois Evezich
The Orange County Register
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. — Firefighters from Engine 5 in Laguna Niguel were first responders at 10 a.m. last Thursday when the Great Southern California Shakeout disaster drill took place at Crown Valley Elementary School. Capt. Doug Mitchell, with engineer Joseph Luth and firefighter Kevin Skinner arrived just in time to look for and assess any damage that might have injured students.
Emergency operations and dispatch were set up in different locations to keep communications open between the Orange County Fire Authority, the Sheriff’s Department and other agencies.
Students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade were either in classrooms or out on the playground when Assistant Principal Peggy Baerst, who is also the safety communications coordinator for the school, announced through the loudspeaker that the drill had begun and all students must run, duck and cover.
On the playground, students knelt where they were standing, covering their necks with their hands and touching their foreheads to the ground. The quiet was almost startling because these kids were well trained in emergency procedures. Out on the playground, the only sound was the clanging of tether ball chains against the poles.
Staff monitored the drill, keeping students down for a few minutes until Baerst announced again that all students were to line up with their classes, carrying cards with identification, and evacuate to the upper playground. There, Principal Tony Bogle congratulated them on the successful drill.
The teacher for the hearing impaired kept up with the special needs kids by signaling them all along the way.
These students knew how to duck and cover. lois evezich/staff photos
It’s important to cover your neck to protect your head during an earthquake.