Salem Reporter publishes a regular column from Mark Wardell, West Salem team leader for Salem’s Community Emergency Response Team, focusing on emergency preparedness and planning.

Eagle Charter School

On Oct. 17, I had the opportunity to speak to third to fifth grade students at Eagle Charter School about the basic ideas around preparedness. This was the day after the Great ShakeOut, so the students had just experienced crawling under their desks in an earthquake drill the day before I arrived. Not only were the students engaging, but they also had a good appreciation for emergency preparedness.

I began by asking them about things they do that require practicing, such as music or sports activities. That is the point of the Great ShakeOut: to help us practice so if we’re ever in a situat

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