Overlake Shares Earthquake Plan

When it comes to an earthquake, everyone talks about being ready for the "Big One", but very few know what preparing for the "Big One" really means.

That’s not the case with The Overlake School as last week, the entire campus took part in an annual earthquake drill.

Kent Renno leads the school’s Risk Management Committee, and shared his thoughts on Overlake’s response and the role of parents and guardians. He says while the strength of an earthquake will determine our response, several policies are in place. “If buildings start shaking, we’re going to go into our earthquake procedure mode,” says Renno. “Everyone will drop, cover, and hold underneath tables and desks. When shaking stops, we’ll all exit buildings and take attendance.”

Assigned faculty and staff emergency response teams will go from building to building assessing damage, reporting injuries, and any other findings back to the command post. A second team made up of transport responders will evacuate any injured people back to a triage area where staff with medical training will treat injuries.

Parents' immediate response will be to pick their children up from Overlake, and Renno says another team with hand-held radios will communicate to reconnect students with families. “As a school, we can only release students to those people who are designated on the medical form that families filled out at the beginning of the school year. No one else,” says Renno. “Now is a great time for parents to review that and make sure it’s exactly who they want to take their child off campus.”

Renno also reassures us that the campus is prepared with supplies in case travel is too hazardous and students have to spend an extended amount of time on campus. The Campus Center is stocked with food and drink, potable water is available in every building, and generators can provide power for days.

Home preparedness is also essential. Families need to be aware that roads may be closed due to damage and downed power lines and trees. Communications may be compromised. Your vehicle should include a first aid kit and always keep your gas tank full. King County's Emergency Preparedness Department offers many online resources for residents.

"Without a doubt, as faculty and staff here at Overlake, our number one job is to take care of and support our students. If your children are at school, we are ready,” says Renno.

Click here to learn more about our emergency handbook and our earthquake response, and click here for a gallery of our earthquake drill.