School Shakeout Preparedness Drill 2013

4 April 2013, 108th Anniversary of the 1905 Kangra Earthquake

In Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Delhi, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal

Pradesh, & Tripura

School Shakeout Preparedness Drill 2013 1

The School Shakeout Preparedness Drill is an annual event which is organized by GeoHazards International (GHI) and GeoHazards Society (GHS) to enhance earthquake preparedness in schools located in high earthquake risk zones. It also marks the anniversary of the great Kangra earthquake which killed more than 19,000 people in 1905. It was started off in 2009 in collaboration with the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, and its reach has been growing ever since. During its inception in 2009, it was set to target mainly Tibetan schools in North and North-eastern India, which eventually was extended to involve large numbers lot of other schools as well over the years. The students participating in these Preparedness drills have been constantly on the rise with 7500 students taking part in 2009, which rose to 28,410 in 2012. Keeping the tradition alive and making it stronger with each passing year, the School Shakeout Preparedness Drill was conducted successfully this year as well at 11:00 am on April 4. With enthusiastic schools from across the country taking part, this turned out to be a mega event, one of its kinds in India, to have happened across so many schools on the same day. This year a lot more schools have shown interest in taking part in the event, taking the figures higher and the message wider across. Keeping the memory alive of one of the most destructive earthquakes to have struck India, this initiative helped reinforcethe message of safety and disaster preparedness among children, teachers, school administrators and parents.

School Shakeout Preparedness Drill 2013 4 April 2013, 108th Anniversary of the 1905 Kangra Earthquake

Awareness at Tibetan Public School Srinagar

Awareness at STS Pokhriabong, West Bengal

, CAE

DCH at Battali High School, Tripura

School Shakeout Preparedness Drill 2013 2

The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives which was instrumental in getting this entire event started in 2009, could not take part in the event on the 4th but is scheduled to do so in the coming few day. Not only is the drill and earthquake preparedness important for the library itself, considering the priceless archives it hosts, it will also sends out an important message to the community when established institutions such as this perform such activities. As always, associations for the Central School of Tibetans, Sambhota Tibetan Schools and Tibetan Children ’ s Village Schools collaborated in bringing together all the schools under them to conduct this drill on the given date and time. Tibetan schools have always participated in this event and have been very proactive in preparing for these drills. For instance, students and staff from CST, Shimla painted their schools’ walls with Drop, Cover and Hold posters as part of their preparedness drive for the drill which was an excellent initiative for permanent reminders visible every day. The event became even bigger with State Governments of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab coming on board. With voluntary technical support from GHS to conduct trainings in school safety across these 3 states, the State Governmentsgot motivated to get their schools involved in the shakeout drill as well. GHS conducted orientation trainings to schools representatives in these

states which helped them participate along with the other schools in the drill on the 4th of April 2013. Haryana government selectedfour schools from all its districts to get trained and participate. Schools from 4 districts from Himachal Pradesh and 2 districts from Punjab took part. With such enthusiastic partners, the number of children taking part in the event also grew to cross 50,000 for the first time since inception.

Safe Evacuation in PanchkulaSchool,Haryana

DCH at Chitaml in Punjab

Teacher doing DCH in Tibetan Public School Srinagar

Safe Evacuation in Panchkula School, Haryana

Safe Evacuation at JPM School for the visually challenged children in Delhi

School Shakeout Preparedness Drill 2013 3

On the whole, schools from 10 states took part in the drill with around 50, 893 students practicing the Drop Cover Hold on and making a safe evacuation. The schools had arranged a special assembly in which the Principals exhorted students and teachers on the need for preparedness and safety practices. In terms of numbers, 21,787 participants in 80 schoolsfrom Himachal Pradesh, 10,672 from 40 schools from Haryana, 2467 from 18 schools in Punjab , 5337 from7 schools in Uttarakhand, 2428 participants from 5 schoolsin West Bengal, 1430 from6 schoolsin Tripura, 4175 from 4 schools from the Delhi region, 1169 from 2schools from Jammu and Kashmir , 508 from 2 schools in Sikkim, 98 from one school in Meghalaya, and 110 from one school in Arunachal Pradesh (110) took part in the drill.JPM Senior Secondary School for the Blind (Blind Relief Association) deserves a special mention here for conducting the drill successfully with all the students and staff taking part. The international recognition of this event also grew, with one school each from Myanmar and Bhutan taking part in the shakeout drill. Preparations for the drill had started off with GHS sending out posters, resource material and other relevant documents to the schools. The schools after that held meetings, formed committees and involved students in various preparatory activities for the event. Many of the school representatives were oriented by GHS resource persons in various parts of the country. The drill involved students doing the Drop, Cover and Hold at the sounding of a special bell and then evacuating the school building in accordance with a pre-drawn evacuation plan. After evacuating the building, students assembled in a systematic fashion in pre-decided safe assembly areas. This was followed by a roll-call of the students to

First Aid at Upper TCV School, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh

After evacuation Roolcall at Passu School Himachal Pradesh

After evacuation Debriefing at JPM School for the Blinds, Delhi

After evacuation Debriefing at KheriSalabatpur School Punjab

First Aid at STS GangchenKyichong, Himachal Pradesh

School Shakeout Preparedness Drill 2013 4

ascertainthat everybody had safely evacuated and to cater for any missing or injured students. Some schools also used the opportunity to test the functioning of their first aid teams, so that they can be more efficient in a real emergency A few schools which have their search and rescue teams in place sent them out to search of missing students. This was followed by the head teacher calling off the drill, allowing students to go back to their respective classes following which a debriefing session was for the school staff members and members of the school safety committee. Such drills tune the minds of the participating students and staff membersminds so that they respond appropriately in the same way in case of an emergency. It also serves as a means oftesting and enhancing the awareness and preparedness of school staff and students. With regular drills, this process results in better, improved and updated plans over a period of time, which are fine-tuned according to changes that keep happening in and around the school.A good example of this was witnessed in DAV Gurgaon where the teachers let the student leaders manage this drill and most teachers remained observers. It is to the credit of the school participants that they still managed to bring down the evacuation time of 3700 persons by 40% from their previous drill.

Helping spread the message of earthquake preparedness in all these schools has been an achievement for everybody involved in the process. This year’s shakeout was another very significant milestone which hopefully, with more cooperation and involvement from more and more State Governments, we will be able to take this message of preparedness to each and every school and re-emphasise the right of our children to a safe education.

For further details, please contact:

Hari Kumar, GeoHazards International, C/o GeoHazards Society, New Delhi, India; Phone: +91 9810600821 & +91 11 46509848 email: hari@geohaz.org; geohazsociety@gmail.com www.geohaz.org, www.geohaz.in

Children assembled in field after evacuation in DAV Public School, Sector 14, Gurgaon

S No. Name of the participant schools

Participants in

each school

Statewise

Distribution

1 DAV Public School, Sector -14, Gurgaon 3700

2 Saraswati Bal Vidya Mandir 150

3 TCV School, Majnu Ka Tila 131

4 JPM SS School for the Blind (Blind Relief Association) 194

4175

5 Govt. High School (GHS), Annadale 76

6 Govt. High School (GHS), Bharari 27

7 Govt. High School (GHS) ,Khalini 199

8 Govt. High School (GHS) ,Chauramaidan 86

9 Govt. High School (GHS) ,Jakhu 44

10 Govt. High School (GHS) ,Kaithu 163

11 Govt. High School (GHS), Krishnanagar 65

12 Govt. High School (GHS), Tutikandi 114

13 Govt. Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Chhota Shimla 105

14 Govt. Senior Secondary School (GSSS),Phagli 125

15 Govt. Senior Secondary School (GSSS) (Girls),Portmore 300

16 Govt. Senior Secondary School (GSSS)(Boys),Shimla 74

17 Govt. Senior Secondary School (GSSS),Summerhill 152

18 KV ,Jutogh 452

19 DAV Public School ,New Shimla 256

20 DAV Senior Secondary School, Lakkar bazaar 1020

21 Dayanand Public School,The Mall , Shimla 211

22 St.Edward’s,Milsington,Shimla 1260

23 Auckland House School,Shimla 520

24 St.Thomas, Near ARTRAC, Shimla 110

25 ECI Chalet day school,The Mall,Shimla 320

26 Loreto Convent Tara hall, Shimla 1860

27 Bishop Cotton School,Shimla 650

28 Hinault Public School,Near Benmore,Chhota Shimla 210

29 Hill Grove Public School,Sheetal Kunj ,Sanjauli 100

30 Laureate Public School, Brance Peth,Bharari, Shimla 526

31 GSSS, Koti 104

32 Central Tibetan School, Chhota Shimla 465

33 GHS, Nathan 126

34 GHS, Shirar 111

35 GSSS, Garsa 72

36 GHS, Chesta 108

37 GGSSS, Sultanpur 165

38 GSSS, Mohul 90

39 GSSS, Bajovra 240

40 GSSS, Naggar 120

41 GSSS(G), Kullu 250

42 GSSS, Haripur 60

43 GSSS, Jagatsuka 77

44 GSSS, Katrain 110

45 GSSS, Manali 182

46 GBSSS, Kullu 80

47 GSSS, Dadh 44

School Shakeout Preparedness Drill 2013

INDIA

Delhi & NCR (4 schools 4175 participants)

State total

Himachal Pradesh (80 schools 21, 787 participants)

Annexure

1

48 GSSS, Gharoh 75

49 GSSS, Passu 160

50 GSSS, Rasol 70

51 GSSS, Zamanabad 230

52 GSSS(G), Dharamshala 138

53 GSSS, Khaudikhai 47

54 GSSS, Mandal 63

55 GSSS, Pathiar 92

56 GSSS, Rait 110

57 GGSSS, Dharamshala 51

58 GSSS, Rajiana 46

59 GHS, Rajera 50

60 GSSS, Samote 363

61 GSSS, Sihunta 80

62 GBSSS, Chamba 67

63 GSSS, Kiani 132

64 GSSS, Bathri 100

65 GSSS, Bharian-kothi 82

66 GHS, Pucca Talla 57

67 GSSS, Chamba 35

68 GSSS, Bathi 60

69 Mewoen Petoen 115

70 STS Puruwala 115

71 TCV Gopalpur 1400

72 CST Dalhousie 486

73 TCV Suja 285

74 CST Bir 102

75 CST Shimla 581

76 CST Dholanji 552

77 TCV Lower Dharamsala 828

78 TCV Upper Dharamsala 2157

79 STS Paonta 528

80 STS Gangkyi 349

81 STS Bhuntar 155

82 STS Gangchen 100

83 STS Manali 82

84 STS Chauntra 415

21787

85 CST Herbertpur 489

86 CST Mussoorie 746

87 STS Dekyiling 310

88 TCV Selaqui 447

89 THF Rajpur 603

90 THF Mussoorie 2515

91 TNMF Clementown 227

5337

92 TCV Ladakh 797

93 Tibetan Public school, Srinagar 372

1169

94 CST Tezu 110

110

95 CST Ravangla 167

96 STS Gangtok 341

508

Sikkim (2 schools 508 participants)

State total

Uttarakhand (7 schools 5337 participants)

State total

Jammu & Kashmir ( 2schools 1169 participants)

State total

Arunachal Pradesh (1 school 110 participants)

State total

State total

2

97 CST Kalimpong 150

98 CST Sonada 212

99 CST Darjeeling 472

100 STS Pokhriabong 144

101 Darjeeling school 1450

2428

102 STS Shillong 98

98

1 GGSSS, Manesar 624

2 GSSS, Dhankot 590

3 GSSS(BK), Manesar 214

4 GSSS, Rathdhana 46

5 GSSS, Baroli 296

6 GSSS, Ukhalchanna 165

7 GGSSS, Badli 236

8 GSSS, Bahadurgarh 340

9 GSSS, Dongra Ahir 170

10 GSSS, Bhojawas 1167

11 GSSS, Berli Khurd 102

12 GSSS AP Sampli 48

13 GSSS, Nand Rampur Bass 64

14 GSSS, Singar 78

15 GSSS, Chhapera 212

16 GMSSSS, Dhatir 82

17 GSSS, Hasanga 233

18 GSSS, Bhirdana 605

19 GSSS, Dhangar 108

20 GSSS, Dhiranwas 86

21 GSSS, Bhiwani Rohilla 313

22 GSSS, Roopgarh 371

23 GSSS, Dohkamaur 130

24 GSSS, Kawi 170

25 GSSS, Dhukra 80

26 GSSS, Jawal 72

27 GSSS, Humayunpur 112

28 GSSS, Sarangpur 85

29 GSSS, Harodi 58

30 GSSS, Assankalan 68

31 GSSS, Pinjore 350

32 GGSSS, Sector 15, Panchkula 1045

33 GGSSS, Barwala 104

34 GSSS, Kakarmajra 409

35 GSSS, Guhna 215

36 GSSS, Manas 290

37 GSSS, Gharaunda 915

38 GSSS, Assandh 258

39 GSSS, Mirzapur 131

40 Guru Nanak SSS 120

10762

Haryana (40 schools 10762 participants)

State total

West Bengal (5 schools 2428 participants)

State Total

Meghalaya ( 1 school 98 participants)

State total

3

143 Guru Nanak Dev College of Education, Majatri District, Mohali 95

144 Shaheed Bhagat Singh School, Chunni Kalan District, Fatehgarh Sahib 155

145 Government Senior Secondary School, Salempur 114

146 Government Senior Secondary School, Salabatpur 148

147 Government Senior Secondary School, Behrampur Zimidara 159

148 Government Senior Secondary School, Bhagwantpur 170

149 Government Senior Secondary School, Dhangrali 134

150 Government Senior Secondary School, Chamkaursahib 221

151 Government High School, Makrauna Kalan 115

152 Government High School, Rattangarh 178

153 Government High School, Chitmli 13

154 Government High School, Kalaran 178

155 Government High School, Dumna 158

156 Government Senior Secondary School, Lutheri 280

157 Government Senior Secondary School, Tajpur 201

158 Government Senior Secondary School, Salabatpur 148

2467

159 Maharanipur Higher Secondary School, Teliamura, Khowai District 209

160 Kabi Nazrul Higher Secondary School, Teliamura 381

161 Sonatala Govt. Higher Secondary School, Khowai 288

162 Battala High School, Khowai 225

163 Maharani Tulsibati Girls Higher Secondary School, Agartala 215

164 Bodhjung Boys Higher Secondary School 112

1430

165 CAE, Mandalay 622

622

50893

MYANMAR

Grand Total participants in the SSPD 2013

Punjab (18 school 2467 participants)

State total

Tripura (6 schools 1430 participants)

State total

4