In preparation for the next major storm or earthquake to hit the area, Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center initiated a camp-wide disaster drill last week to practice implementing its disaster plan.
About 150 Mount Hermon Conference Center employees participated in a camp-wide “earthquake” — a simulated 7.1 magnitude temblor, similar to the Loma Prieta quake that hit the area in 1989. While the earth did not shake last week, Mount Hermon staff treated the announcement of the “quake” at 10 a.m. Feb. 3 as a real disaster.
“We want to be prepared in the event of an emergency, because we can have up to 1,000 guests on our grounds,” organizer Sean McFeely said.
Pat Jocius, a school emergency specialist, designed the drill, which made use of about three years of work that went into developing an emergency plan for Mount Hermon’s grounds.
“I don’t think there has been an exercise to this level in this valley for years,” Jocius said.
“This represents a very large financial commitment by Mount Hermon, wanting the guests to be safe and (know) what to do in an emergency.”
Plans for the drill solidified after several guest buildings were crushed by storm-felled trees this winter, said Roger Williams, Mount Hermon’s director. The earthquake drill represented the most likely scenario, he added.
Center leaders pulled out all stops to implement the plan:
n At the Playschool, 3-year-olds practiced getting under cover and staying put.
n A utility team shut off gas valves all around the camp, including valves that were “damaged” by the quake.
n A search-and-rescue team donned rescue equipment and found 25 “victims” in three buildings. The mock victims were taken to an area set up for treatment.
n A food-service team used food on hand and no utilities to prepare a meal for 150 people.
n A guest services team kept people occupied with games and activities before lunch.
n A counseling and prayer team helped staff and victims
n An emergency operations center coordinated the effort and communicated with the press.
The drill involved observers from the Felton Fire Department, Santa Cruz County American Red Cross chapter, Felton Community Emergency Response Team and Santa Cruz County Voluntary Organizations Active in a Disaster.
“It went really, really well,” McFeely said after the drill. “I think it went better than we expected.”
