While Oak Park High School enjoys its daily rhythms and routines in fall of 2024, the earth beneath the Conejo Valley has been transmitting uneasy messages. Recent seismic activity along the San Andreas fault has prompted a range of local concerns regarding the risk of a major earthquake. You might have felt and heard the abnormal tremors and shakes in our surrounding cities and towns, such as Ojai, Malibu, Pasadena and Bakersfield – all over the last 12 months. What could this mean for Oak Park?  These rumblings are more than just an abstract geological noise but a warning to ensure our preparedness for a “Big One.” 

Since the summer of 2023, there have been over four seismic events in proximity to

OPHS with a magnitude greater than 4.0, measured on the Richter Magnitude scale.

The Richter Magnitude scale is almost 100 years old. The scale works by measuring the amplitude of waves that earthquakes create to determine the severity of the seismic event.  When an event’s magnitude approaches 5.0 and above, seismologists classify it as a moderate to serious earthquake. 

Earthquakes occur when two tectonic plates suddenly slip along a fault line, releasing energy in the form of waves that cause the ground to shake. 

Scientists work hard to find and develop new ways to anticipate and prepare for earthquakes, but the results are usually unsatisfactory. It is extremely difficult to forecast an earthquake any more than 30 minutes from its occurrence. Scientists have begun to use AI and review past earthquake records and even animal behavior, as warnings of an immediate risk of disaster. Scientists in the IoT technology team have developed and trained neural networks to predict and determine when an aftershock may occur after the initial strike. 

The San Andreas fault runs more than 800 miles from the north to the south of California and has produced some of the largest earthquakes in world history. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake measured a 7.9 on the Richter scale and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, with a 6.9 on the Richter scale, were both catastrophic. The 1906 earthquake caused thousands of deaths, and both earthquakes caused life-changing injuries with widespread damage and destruction to property. A major earthquake can be classified as anything above 5.5 on the Richter scale. 

On Jan. 17, 1994, the Northridge earthquake, measured 6.7 on the Richter scale, struck the Los Angeles area with roaring shocks and devastation. Northridge is 12 miles from OPHS’ campus. The earthquake not only caused instant destruction but multiple aftershocks, other earthquakes and major landslides. Known as being one of the most devastating, most costly earthquakes in history – the damage totaled up to almost 20 billion dollars, with 57 fatalities and injuring tens of thousands of people in the greater Los Angeles area. 

Along the southern section of the San Andreas Fault, Palmdale, Palm Springs and Lancaster lie directly on the fault line. OPHS, just around 76 miles out from these inland empire towns, are considered vulnerable to these population centers. While not lying directly on the fault line ourselves, we in Oak Park remain exposed to seismic activity along the fault, having the potential to cause great damage to us due to its proximity. 

Disaster preparedness is one of the few ways to ensure your safety if a major earthquake occurs. OPHS has a Comprehensive School Safety Plan, which complies with the California Education Code and was last updated in January 2024. The plan includes disaster procedures, routines and an emergency operations strategy. It’s important to acknowledge that OPHS’ school buildings and grounds might be turned over to public agencies, including the American Red Cross, for mass care and welfare shelters during and after the effects of a major earthquake. 

As OPHS continues its day to day routines, the earth beneath us remains highly unpredictable. Recent seismic events have reminded us that while the San Andreas fault line may still seem distant, the reality is it is much closer than we think. The lessons we learned from history – whether it was the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 or the Northridge earthquake in 1994 – are reminders that being prepared is a necessity, not a choice. For Oak Park students, staff and residents, being prepared is crucial for our safety and protection when the “Big One” finally strikes.