Students practice for the next temblor

Up and down the state, millions of Californians ducked and covered and their heads Thursday before evacuating buildings during the annual earthquake drill known as the Great California Shakeout.

At Wilson Middle School, roughly 1,300 students rushed to the field where teachers toted emergency kits, turned on the generator and accounted for all students.

Assistant Principal Sona Arakelian said the goal was to evacuate in less than five minutes. Everyone made it out in three.

“Of course in a real emergency it’s not going to be the same,” she said. “Also, as a mom, I want to make sure the kids are prepared. At least our kids will know, ‘The siren just went off. I’m going to run to the field and somebody will come for me.’”

Thursday’s drill was the third one Glendale school kids have practiced this year under the requirement that they practice at least one drill each month.

-- Kelly Corrigan, Times Community News

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan