Disaster drills are supposed to prepare students for the worst, but some said that aspects of the procedures need to be changed to ensure better safety in the case of a real disaster.

Gunn currently holds two disaster drills each year. The most recent drill was held on Oct. 17 when approximately 2,000 people evacuated onto the turf field. Faculty members, students and the administration all participated. Members of the first aid, search and rescue and transportation teams went through their roles and practiced completing procedures in preparation for a disaster.

Some said that the drill went smoothly. “Given that students and staff do it twice a year, the students and staff did really well,” Assistant Principal Phil Winston said.

However, following the drill, members of the staff and student body found aspects to improve upon.

The administration, which was unable to make all students sit down, said that doing so in an actual disaster would be important. “It’s very difficult getting 1900 students to sit down,” Winston said. “[But] it makes it easier for us to see what’s going on. It makes it more manageable.”

Several students also voiced concerns that the school desks would not offer enough protection in a disaster. “I just ducked underneath,” junior Taimu Yamauchi said. “I didn’t have any problems, but a lot of people thought that the desks were too small, and there was gum underneath. The desks aren’t doing the job. When some people duck under the desks they have a head or leg sticking out. People would get injured.” Senior Phil Park agreed. “I know a lot of people who can’t fit under the desks because we’re just too big,” Park said.

Assistant Principal Tom Jacoubowsky said that complaints may lie in the desk structure, but added that it cannot be helped. “Unfortunately, it’s how the desks are designed,” he said. “You just do the best you can.”

However, other members of the administration dismissed the complaints, saying that students should follow instructions. “Duck, cover and be quiet,” Winston said. “[Students] are young adults and should act like young adults.”

Others, like Yamauchi, worry that not having enough desks for everyone would be problematic in the case of an earthquake. “We didn’t have enough desks in the room, so some people had to share a desk,” he said.

However, social studies teacher Mark Weisman said that in the case of an emergency, students should not have to use the same desk. “Every student is supposed to have a desk,” Weisman said. “It’s a part of the district policy.”

Being in certain rooms may also be a bigger threat than others when an actual disaster strikes. According to Jacoubowsky, classrooms such as the choir, band and engineering tech rooms can be more hazardous for students because of the lack of desks in them. “In a real disaster, we’re just going to have to use our best judgment,” Jacoubowsky said.

However, Principal Noreen Likins said that the main purpose of ducking under the desks is to use them to protect a person’s head. “They say that what you should do is to cover your head as much as possible,” Likins said. “Yes, you want your arms and legs, but you want to protect your head more.”

Likins also said that she thought that major injuries would only be sustained in a large earthquake. “In this building, it is unlikely that there would be major injuries,” she said. “We’re single story, and the building tends to flex very well. Only a major, major earthquake might be more hazardous to students, like if the roof came down, or if you get a building collapse.”

Despite this, some feel there needs to be a change. “We should think of something smarter,” Yamauchi said. “Getting a bigger desk might help. Or each classroom should have more desks than necessary.”

Complaints about lacking student help in the disaster drill process have also arisen. For the past three years, students have not been a part of the crew helping out with the drills. According to Winston, who is responsible for preparing the school for disasters, many students have approached him asking why they were not involved in the process, such as members of certain medical or emergency clubs. “I gave a card to them, and told them to give it to their club president and to ask them to contact me,” Winston said. “But no one ever did.” However, Winston also said that the school discourages students from being involved in the rescue process. “We’re a little reluctant to let students get involved,” he said. “There’s a lot of liability in that. We’re just trying to play it safe.”