The Times-Journal

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 | DeKalb County's Oldest Newspaper

Classifieds | Jobs | Homes | Autos

Shocking quake sends message to local schools

By Kelly Townsend
The Times-Journal

Published May 1, 2003

Yovani Bartolone, an 8-year-old second-grader at Wills Valley Elementary in Fort Payne, couldn’t believe he had actually slept through what he called the “biggest event” in history.

Grinning, he said he couldn’t wait until it came again. He wanted to see it.

“Maybe this time it will happen while we are in school. That would be neat.”

When asked what safety measures he would have to take in school, he said he didn’t know.

His classmate Jessi Davis said the 4.9 earthquake that occurred around 4 a.m. on Tuesday morning woke her up, and she never wanted anything like that to happen again.

“I thought it was a helicopter crashing into our house. My parents couldn’t go back to sleep, and I stayed up with them,” she said.

Third-grader Addison McBrayer also said she didn’t want to experience something like that again—especially during the day and at school.

She said that there hasn’t been any preparation for an earthquake at school, just severe weather.

“I read in a book that we are suppose to get near a doorway or hide underneath our desk. I guess that is what we would do,” she said.

Wills Valley principal Pat Horton said that even though there is a section in system’s policy book on what to do in case of an earthquake, there never really has been much precautions taken.

“We just don’t think anything like that can happen in this area. But now we know it can. We probably need to have more practice drills,” Horton said.

Horton said in case something like this happen, the teachers and students would be advised to get underneath their desks or hover near doorways.

“When it is over with, everyone would be ordered to leave the building and would have to stand outside,” he said.

According to All-State Insurance, there is also standard policy for what a homeowner needs to do prepare for an earthquake:

• Gather emergency supplies such as bottled water, nonperishable food, first-aid kit, flashlight and battery-operated radio with extra batteries. Keep them stored in a designated area.

• Teach family members how to turn off electric, gas and water utilities.

• Buy at least one multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher

• Install smoke detectors and change the batteries every six months

• Sketch a floor plan of your home and identify places that can provide cover during an earthquake

• Designate an out-of-town relative or friend as your family’s emergency contact person that will help keep track of family members.

In case of an earthquake:

• Drop and take cover under a table or other sturdy furniture. Kneel, sit or stay close to the floor. Hold onto furniture legs for balance.

• If no sturdy cover is nearby, kneel or sit close to the floor next to a structurally sound interior wall. Place your hands on the floor for Balance.

• Don’t stand in doorways. Violent motion could cause doors to slam against your body, crush your fingers or inflict other serious injuries. You also could become vulnerable to flying objects.

• Move away from windows, bookcases and other unsecured heavy objects.

• If you’re in bed, stay there and cover yourself with pillows and blankets.

• If you’re inside don’t run outside.

• Remember to drop, cover and hold.

After the Earthquake:

• Be alert for aftershocks

• Whenever possible wear shoes to protect your feet from debris

• Check condition of electric, gas and water utilities

• Check for fire hazards and use flashlights instead of candles or lanterns.

• If you’re not certain, evacuate carefully and don’t touch downed power lines.

Share | Save | Mail | Print

Photo Reprints
Purchase select photographs from local games and events. New from The Times-Journal and The Times-Journal.

Business Card Directory

Your Fort Payne and DeKalb County reference guide, featuring accounting, automotive, banks, insurance, restaurants and much more!

Subscription Services: Circulation | Home Delivery | Back Issues | Vacation Stops | Newspapers In Education

The Fort Payne Times-Journal | Publisher: J.D. Davidson

811 Greenhill Blvd.NW, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Tel: 256-845-2550 | Email