Local Public School Students Will Shake It All Out on Thursday

Students duck, cover, and hold (Photo – picryl.com)

On Thursday, October 19, 2023, students from local public schools will participate in the Great California ShakeOut earthquake drills.

By News Desk

PUSD

On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 10:19 am, PUSD will join millions of people for the Great California ShakeOut. Students and staff will practice “drop, cover, and hold on” drills at schools and offices throughout PUSD.

That same day, PUSD will test the emergency communications systems that we use to alert families and staff about emergencies and special events at our schools. The messages may come by voicemail, email, and/or text messages to all the contacts listed in your Aeries Parent Portal profile.

Parents/caregivers can check their Aeries Parent Portal account on a desktop or laptop (not the mobile app) to make sure that their contact information is correct and that they have given permission for their devices to receive messages from PUSD. The most common reasons why you may not receive messages are:

• A wrong phone number
• Opting out of text messages or emails from the Pasadena Unified School District
• Blocking emails from PUSD
• Blocking phone calls from 626-396-3600

SPUSD

Students and employees have been informed about proper earthquake safety protocol and will participate so that the steps are easy-to-understand and easy-to-remember in case of an emergency.

The test will be sent via ParentSquare as an urgent alert. (If you do not receive the emergency notification test on October 19, notify your school office).

The ShakeOut is only one example of safety preparedness activities undertaken every year. Every SPUSD school develops a comprehensive safety plan including staff pamphlets detailing fire, earthquake, soft lockout, and hard lockdown procedures and an age-appropriate safety video that is shared with students. These protocols are developed and revised in tandem with law enforcement agencies including the South Pasadena Police and Fire Departments.

Here is a link with additional tips for earthquake safety at home.