On Thursday morning, September 12 at 7:28am, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake shook Los Angeles residents in the Malibu, California area. Los Angeles is situated on a fault line, so earthquakes are no surprise to area residents. Following the initial earthquake, a 2.8 magnitude aftershock and a 3.4 magnitude tremor were recorded. Because of the areas familiarity with earthquakes, the local authorities had several precautions and safety measures in place, such as, California’s first ever earthquake warning system that sent an emergency alert to residents in the area warning them of the upcoming earthquake. Thankfully, there were no damages or injuries reported.

At Arlington, Dr. Felicia Turner is the head of our safety protocols and says that we have safety measures in place in case an earthquake occurs in our area. In the event of an earthquake, everyone gets underneath a desk or sturdy table, making sure their head and chest are covered from objects that could be falling. It is also important to remember to stay away from windows, remain inside until the shaking stops and the principal says its safe to exit, and teachers must call role once exited the building and report any missing students to administration. Memphis is located near a fault line so there is about a 25-40% chance of an earthquake happening in our area.