CJPS Earthquake Preparedness Campaign

Many of you may have come across information that the Philippines is one of the countries at risk of devastation from an earthquake due to the presence of the 100km-long West Valley Fault and a shorter East Valley Fault.  PHIVOLCS has identified the former to traverse from north to south; as far up as Quezon City, down to the province of Cavite.  They have advised that the magnitude dissipates beyond the 5km radius and as such, we can have some measure of reassurance that Binangonan is 15km away from the fault system.  Despite being less vulnerable from the effects of an earthquake, CJPS still acknowledges the government’s call for preparedness during any kind of disaster by ensuring that individuals, systems, and infrastructures are well-prepared.

Most information being disseminated these days, especially in social media, tends to create panic rather than aid in promoting orderliness in handling such a disaster.  We would like to emphasize that there is a system in place at CJPS and we would like to invite you to learn, practice, and help in promoting in your own homes the simple steps we are enforcing in the school community.

During an Earthquake

1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On
   • Everyone should practice these three simple steps during an actual earthquake
   • The idea is to make yourself as small a target as possible while protecting your head, neck, and chest by taking cover under a sturdy desk, table or chair or near an interior wall
2. Once shaking has stopped, students and staff have a clear evacuation plan to reach an Emergency Assembly Area (EAA)
   • Everyone is to stay together and to quickly and quietly evacuate following the 4 Evacuation Rules: Don’t talk! Don’t push! Don’t run! Don’t turn back!
   • If an aftershock happens during evacuation, everyone should assume the Drop, Cover, and Hold On position until the shaking stops again
3. Each teacher and staff has a clear role in such an emergency and will remain with the students at all times

4. Go-Bag

• Each classroom is equipped with a bag that contains items that are helpful in an emergency (includes first aid kit, flashlight, whistle, trash bag). The teacher will bring this as the class evacuates.
• We ask you to include the following items in your child’s daily school bag:
  • 500mL bottled water and a high energy food (eg. a pack of unsalted peanuts, high energy bar/granola bar)

After an Earthquake

1. While at the EAA, students will have quiet learning activities to be overseen by our Guidance Counseling Team to lessen the psychological impact of the emergency
2. Crowd Control
   • We have anticipated that a deluge of family members may come to pick-up our students, hence we have designated gates that will function as a Reunion Gate to ensure the safety of our students
     • Pre-school & Elementary – Gate 4 (In front of CJPS Parking Lot)
     • High School Campus – Main Gate (In front of the Building)

3. Communication
   • Within each campus, CJPS staff will make use of two-way radios to facilitate a swift and safe evacuation. This system is fail-safe from interruptions unlike other modes of communication.
   • In an emergency such as an earthquake, all modes of communication will be utilized and include landlines, twitter, and CJPS Facebook

A month into their new academic year, we do believe that your children have now adjusted and settled into their routine in school and at home, and it is now time to incorporate into their psyche the school’s disaster preparedness plan.  We are aligning this with the government’s disaster awareness campaign named, Shakedrill due to happen on the 30^th of July and is spearheaded by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).  The Pre-school and Elementary Students will have an earthquake drill on July 29, 2015 at 9:00am, while the High School Department will have theirs on the 28^th at 8:00am.

We hope that as we prepare for such a disaster, let us not forget to pray that our country will be spared from great devastation and let’s not forget to put Jesus in our hearts forever.