CUSD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHAKEOUT
The Capistrano Unified School District, renowned for its safety systems and disaster preparedness, will work together with local governmental agencies to prepare for “The Big One” during the Great Southern California ShakeOut on Thursday, November 13. Lauded as the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history, the ShakeOut will give CUSD the opportunity to train, test and coordinate its systems with Orange County agencies in a simulated 7.8 earthquake drill.
In preparation for the ShakeOut, CUSD has coordinated year-long training seminars with all CUSD staff members, aligning local systems to the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Minimally, all CUSD sites will conduct a duck/cover/hold drill, with most fully activating their local NIMS systems and staging events as if an actual earthquake has occurred. The CUSD Education Center at 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano will fully activate the district’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), communicating with Orange County’s EOC at Loma Ridge to assess simulated damages and provide a coordinated response effort.
Please be aware that CUSD sites may be closed to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on November 13 as they participate in the Great ShakeOut. Interested parties can check with individual schools regarding their degree of participation. The Capistrano Unified School District believes this will be a valuable training experience which will further our major district objective to maintain safe schools in the event of a real emergency.
