You’re probably well aware of, or perhaps recovering from, Tuesday’s
earthquake. Go ahead east coasters, take a deep breath. Earthquakes may
not be the most pleasant experience but they do happen and it’s important to be
educated and ready for them.
For educators, parents/guardians, and other care-givers,
that means being able to respond to the needs of others as well as your own.
5 Things to do following the Virginia Earthquake:
1)
Get
educated – What do you know about earthquakes? The U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) has tons of helpful resources about earthquakes,
including an earthquakes FAQ.
2)
Teach
yourself and others – As we progress through school, we are taught about
plate tectonics. Adults and kids on the east coast should catch-up with their
west coast counterparts and understand the science, especially now that they
may have experienced one.
USGS has resources
for teachers in addition to materials
for kids. You can also link directly
to their education page for general earth science.
So what if the lesson is out of
curriculum sequence, take time to teach, or discuss what happened, especially
when students have personal reason to be interested
3)
Be prepared
– How did you respond to the earthquake?
What would you do differently?
Did you feel unsafe? Now is the
time to make plans for crisis response and really evaluate your level of preparation. NEA HIN has resources for preparing for, reacting,
and responding to a crisis. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) makes a number of suggestions as
well. USGS does too. Now is the time for serious discussion
amongst your colleagues and peers about crisis response.
4)
Talk
about it – Traumatic events can have a varying effect on you and your peers
BUT one thing that is certain is that stress should not be handled alone. Find resources for coping here, here, and here. FEMA has resources too.
5)
Practice
and evaluate– Schools are very safe but the reality of the situation is that
a crisis can occur anywhere and ultimately, what matters is how you respond. Washington Post reported some
chaotic moments at schools following the earthquake. Use this as opportunity to be prepared if
there is a next time.
If you have helpful hints or suggestions, please share them below. We’d love to hear your feedback.
|
|