Temblor Teaches Lesson on School Safety : Tiny Wilsona District in the Antelope Valley Offers Some Examples of Ways to Prepare

Nearly one month has passed since the Northridge quake and, in terms of schools and the safety of children, there are some important matters to consider. Parents and children in the San Fernando Valley and adjacent regions have been fortunate in one very important respect. Neither the Sylmar quake in 1971 or the Northridge temblor occurred during school hours. It’s important because few school buildings have been upgraded to withstand major earthquakes, and the timing of the next one might be right in the middle of a school day.

In terms of preparedness for that frightening possibility, the tiny, three-school Wilsona District in the Antelope Valley is among those that is leading the way.

“We’re very aggressive when it comes to emergency preparedness,” said Richard Sanders, a supervisor for the Wilsona District. “All schools have their own portable generators. We have stored water at each site. We have stored food at each site. We’re in a very rural area. We know if there’s a natural disaster, we’re not going to get help for a minimum of three or four days.”

That’s good thinking. We have certainly learned that roads and highways can be severely disrupted by a major temblor. In such an emergency, the schools might be required to remain open for several hours after a quake.

It’s also true that small school districts will find it easier to implement such measures, while others that sustained major damage in the Northridge quake will be ill-prepared for additional expenditures.

Perhaps this is an area where parent teacher associations can help. With last month’s memories so firmly in place, it might be quite reasonable to add certain items to your PTA’s next fund-raising efforts. A portable generator, flashlights and non-perishable food items might be just the thing your child’s school needs when the next earthquake hits.