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Utah students urge annual earthquake drills; Senate adopts resolution
Summary
Sixth‑grade students from Uintah Elementary testified and the Utah Senate unanimously passed FCR 4 urging annual statewide earthquake drills, recommending five preparedness steps and asking the governor to designate a day for drills.
After taking up FCR 4, a resolution urging yearly earthquake drills, the Senate heard testimony from sixth‑grade students from Uintah Elementary who described seismic vulnerabilities in their schools and communities and requested statewide action. Student speakers Isaac Smith, Adrienne Sharp and Brooke Warburton detailed research, local building weaknesses and a five‑step preparedness plan: training employees/tenants to shut off utilities, identifying hazards, using a buddy system, assembling 72‑hour kits and conducting drills.
The students told senators they had found many schools lacked evacuation plans, drills, or knowledge of utility shutoffs. “We realized this is not only a school problem and a community problem, but a statewide dilemma as well,” one student said. They asked the Senate to urge the governor to designate an annual day for earthquake drills and to promote the five‑step plan.
Senator Delpha Baird sponsored the resolution and the education standing committee reported the measure out favorably. The Senate adopted the committee report, and on roll call FCR 4 passed (25 ayes, 4 absent). Senators in the chamber emphasized the resolution sought preparedness training rather than building retrofits; the students and their teacher Carolyn Ross were acknowledged on the floor prior to the vote.
