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Morning News

High School Principal Discusses Seattle Earthquake

Aired March 1, 2001 - 9:33 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Schools throughout the Seattle region stopped classes when the earthquake struck yesterday. Elementary school training about earthquakes was immediately put to use. But in some cases, it wasn't enough to calm the fears.

Let's have a listen to what some students had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUESTION: What happened with the earthquake hit?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I goed under the table.

QUESTION: The teacher told everyone to go under the table? Yes? Was it scary?

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was really scary at first because our chairs started shaking in the room.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I was in the kitchen and I just ran in the doorway because there weren't really any desks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Students were evacuated from the buildings during those frightening moments along with the quake. Afterward, many schools served as shelters until children could be reunited with their parents.

Joining us now by phone is Gerry Millet. He is principal of Decatur High School in Federal Way, just outside of Tacoma, Washington.

Mr. Millet, good morning.

GERRY MILLET, PRINCIPAL, DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL: Good morning.

KAGAN: Is your school open today?

MILLET: Yes it is.

KAGAN: How did it do yesterday? What was the earthquake like for you?

MILLET: Well, I'm from the East Coast. For me it was a real wake-up call. They're calling it...

KAGAN: Was this your first earthquake?

MILLET: Yes.

KAGAN: Oh my goodness.

MILLET: They're calling it the rattle in Seattle. And it was much more than a rattle, believe me.

KAGAN: How long did it feel like it lasted for you?

MILLET: It felt like it went on for minutes. At about 40 second, I couldn't believe how long not only the initial rocking of my computer on my desk -- I thought it would topple over -- but the wave motion afterwards went on for the longest period of time. It was surreal.

KAGAN: Now, I grew up in Southern California, so earthquake drills was just a regular part of going to school for us down there. But what about in Seattle? Do you run regular earthquake drills for your kids?

MILLET: Yes we do. And that was the key yesterday. Our students were under the desks before the teachers gave them directions in many cases. And I reached for the intercom as soon as the earth action was over with. I told them that it apparently was an earthquake, stay where they were until further notice.

We checked with our custodians and our assistant principals to see that our hallways were clear, that no damage was in the hallways. And then we rang the fire alarm to evacuate, according to plan. And we went out to the baseball field where there was no trees, no buildings.

KAGAN: And what about physically? When you had a chance to go and take another look, how did your school do?

MILLET: Pretty well. Our custodian, Joe Swanson (ph), is a certified disaster inspector so he closed the gym. It's a separate building to our facility. And we had 100 students who had their gear and their clothes in there and their, you know, jackets and all and we didn't let them back for the rest of the day. It's cleared today. It was cleared by the city inspector at 4:00 yesterday afternoon.

KAGAN: Now, what are you hearing about most schools in the Seattle area? Most open for business today?

MILLET: I think so. There are some schools that are closed for precaution and for more inspection, but I don't know that any were closed for major damage.

KAGAN: And since school is a place where you learn, Mr. Millet, what'd you learn yesterday just in terms of actually being in an earthquake yourself and what you might do differently for your school and your students if it happened again?

MILLET: Well, I'm from the East Coast. And I often -- we can anticipate storms that come or even some disasters. There's no anticipation is what I learned. The earthquake is on before you recognize, and maybe even a few seconds into it, before you -- to catch up with you. So always being prepared is the key.

KAGAN: Be prepared. A good lesson, indeed.

Gerry Millet, principal of Decatur High School in Federal Way, so good to hear that your school came through it well. Thanks for joining us, sir.

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