Irvine schools to take part in the nation’s largest earthquake drill next week

Get ready to drop, cover and hold on. (And no, this isn't another state budget story.)

Joining more than 8 million participants, IUSD students and staff are gearing up to take part in the Great California ShakeOut next week. The statewide earthquake drill, billed as the nation's largest, is annually organized by a coalition of nonprofit, business, government and education partners. Starting at 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 20, Californians are encouraged to respond as they would during a real seismic event. Students in Irvine will do their part by practicing real strategies they've learned to keep safe during and after a significant temblor, including drop, cover and hold drills and evacuation exercises. Some schools may even take it a step further with search and rescue maneuvers, medical aid drills and mock-scenarios where parents are reunited with their children. Parents and community members are reminded that these are only drills, of course. In the event of an actual emergency, information would be posted right here on the IUSD NewsFlash. For more information on the Great California ShakeOut, click here.