WATCH: The first “high school emergency reunification drill” took place in the Capital Region Friday. Parents of Oak Bay High students were asked to participate in the post-disaster drill. Isabelle Raghem reports.
Hundreds of Oak Bay High students left their classrooms early Friday as their parents waited to pick them up.
“After the Big One hits, we’re gonna want to reunite so how are we gonna do that? That’s why we’re here,” Marketa Lund, an emergency and crisis response manager told parents Friday afternoon.
“This is our first high school that’s gonna be going through a post-disaster parent-student reunification,” said Greater Victoria School District Associate Supt. Greg Kitchen.
The scenario is not just in case of an earthquake added Kitchen.
“Situations like an urban fire or a gas leak or electrical wires being down,” Kitchen said.
Parents checked in at two stations. At the first, staff confirmed, using ID, those who were authorized to pick the student up.
At the second station, parents gave a release form to a runner who then located the child before reuniting the student with their guardian.
“It’s good practice to be prepared and know what it might be like,” said one parent.
It’s a drill that will be done at every school in the Greater Victoria School District in coming years. They’ve already practiced at a few elementary and middle schools.
“To ensure that its gonna work when we really need it to work and we’re gonna identify where the gaps are and we’re gonna be able to address those gaps,” said Lund.
The district says this drill is a good reminder to parents that they too should be prepared.
Isabelle Raghem
