On October 14, 2022, Segerstrom High School went on lockdown after receiving an anonymous call about an active shooter on campus. Around 11 AM the lockdown was announced and the police arrived on campus within minutes. About an hour later, another announcement was made that it was a hoax and there was no known threat on campus. Schools across the nation have received similar calls that were also false alarms.

It was said that there was an active and armed shooter in C building. It was suspected to be a prank because the caller said that the shooter was in room 15, which doesn’t exist in this school. Due to safety reasons, however, the school was put on lockdown until it was certain there was no threat on campus.

“I was super scared, I was shaking and felt like I wasn’t able to walk,” said Casey Guardado (10). 

Since it was unclear whether the lockdown was a drill or not, there were mixed reactions to the announcement. It wasn’t until the police officers entered the buildings to ensure doors were locked that students and staff realized the lockdown was real.

“When I was in lockdown, our teacher made us continue to finish our test, but then in my other classes, the teacher was talking about our feelings from the situation and wondered if it was traumatic or not,” said Carlos Molina (12). 

There were also some rooms that didn’t have curtains, so when the lockdown started students and the teachers improvised with supplies found in their classrooms. This is a big risk for the students and staff, especially those with classrooms facing the front of the school.

Savannah Gomez (11) said, “After we locked the door, we found anything that could cover the window since C building has no curtains.”

A few weeks before the accident, there was a video shown during homeroom about what to do if an active shooter was on campus. The video also instructed on what times were appropriate to run, hide, and fight. 

Not only was the video helpful, but it’s also proved to be more relevant than ever. There have been over 40 school shootings this year alone. Regular lockdown drills are extremely important for the well-being of students and staff on campus and proper communication with one another is vital.

The lockdown drill procedure usually takes about 5-8 minutes. Originally, the drill was set for Tuesday, September 20th. The district requires at least a 30-day notice to students and parents before setting a date. For this reason, the lockdown drill has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 16 at 9:40 A.M. Two fire drills have also been scheduled for this year, one on Thursday, December 1, and one next semester on Wednesday, April 19. The time of these drills is to be determined.

It is crucial to dedicate specific times and procedures for school safety drills; these situations are a matter of life and death, and knowing exactly what to do in case of an emergency can ensure that the school remains a safe environment for students and staff.