Earthquake!(?)
Trip Start
Jun 19, 2008
1
12
37
Trip End
Ongoing
Taichung, Taiwan
Monday, July 14, 2008
Hey, just noticed you had a 6.0 magnitude earthquake. I suggest you update your blog with your impressions.
Rees
The message was accompanied with an official announcement from the National Earthquake Information Center/US Geological Survey showing that, indeed, Taiwan was hit with a strong earthquake. This was rather ironic news due to the recent trip to the earthquake museum just last week.
Thankfully, the earthquake's epicenter was toward the southern tip of the island, and the effects were minimal in my city. I asked all of my fellow teachers who all stated that they did not feel a thing.
However, the event did cause me to ask our administrator about our school's earthquake plan in case one struck during the school day. Her response was rather alarming (probably due to the fact that I come from the Midwest where earthquakes are very rare) stating that, "Well, we really don't have one. Earthquakes are so short that there is really nothing you can do as a teacher about it other than try to keep the kids calm."
I did log onto the Internet and did a little research and found a school in Canada that had a somewhat decent earthquake drill for teachers to practice with their students. Apparently, you are supposed to do the following in the event of an earthquake at school:
1) Instruct all students to calmly get under their desks, crouch down, and put their hands behind their necks.
2) As a class, count to 60 as loud as you can. Counting allows everyone an opportunity to channel nervous energy, and because earthquakes rarely last longer than a minute, provides comfort that the event is almost over.
3) Check for injuries and provide comfort for those who are distraught.
It is a rather simple drill, but after visiting the museum and getting such an alarming e-mail, I know these directions will be posted in my classroom beginning on day one.
