Oklahoma lawmaker wants schools to train for earthquakes

Since 2012, Oklahoma has seen a huge spike in seismic activity.

In 2012, State Rep. Mike Shelton (D-Dist. 9) says, Oklahoma measured one earthquake of 4.0 or better magnitude on the Richter Scale.

By 2014, there were 14 temblors of 4.0 or better, and as of the end of June, 18 of the so far in 2015.

He introduced a bill in 2012 to mandate that the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management coordinate and provide or approve earthquake preparedness and response training for all public schools in the state.

According to a statement released earlier this week by the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus, "after Shelton filed his measure, a governor’s staffer sent an email to the governor’s communications director, asking him to, 'Make this go away.' Subsequently the Republican House leadership sent Shelton’s HB 2868 to the Common Education Committee, where it died without ever receiving a hearing."

Things have changed, Rep. Shelton told KRMG Wednesday, and and he plans to re-file his bill with the legislature, which reconvenes in February.

"I think we've established ourselves as an earthquake state now," Shelton said.

He says it's time to take action.

"If we sit by and do nothing when we recognize there's a problem, and if something happens, somebody's severely hurt or even killed, everybody's going to be up in arms, saying 'oh! the travesty! We should have done something!" he added.

Asked why students throughout the state need the training when most of the earthquakes are centered around a particular region in central Oklahoma, he pointed out that some areas of the state are much more prone to tornadoes than others, but that training occurs statewide.

Likewise, schools train for fires, intruders, and other emergencies, because one never knows when crisis will strike.

It only makes sense, he argues, to make the same provision for earthquakes.