PRESS RELEASE - January 6, 2023

EUREKA CITY SCHOOLS MAINTENANCE STAFF WORKED TIRELESSLY TO SECURE SCHOOL SITES/DISTRICT OFFICE AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022 AND SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2022
Posted on 01/06/2023

January 6, 2023 – The 6.4 earthquake on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, and the 5.4 earthquake on Sunday, January 1, 2023, surprised many, and the recent occurrences have been frightening for our community.  At Eureka City Schools (ECS), many staff members, including maintenance staff, worked tirelessly after both earthquakes to secure the school sites and the District Office.  We are thankful for the hard work of many to help keep students and staff safe and sites secure.  

While the second earthquake was not as severe, immediately after the first earthquake on December 20, 2022, two crewmembers arrived on-site at 3:30 a.m. to make sure buildings were safe.   As part of the Standard Operation Procedure after an earthquake, ECS staff went room-by-room at school sites and the District Office, checking gas valves and water mains to make sure nothing was leaking.  Rooms were then checked for damage and hazards, i.e. structural damage, falling objects, damage to lights/ceiling tiles, broken windows, etc.  

Additional members of the ECS maintenance crew arrived at work by 6:00 a.m. and were dispatched to cover areas of concern.   In addition to addressing several other issues, staff set up power generators at the Lincoln Learning Center to pump groundwater out of the building’s basement.  As buildings received daylight, ECS staff again went room-by-room at school sites and the District Office to check heater closet connections for gas lines and exhaust vents.  After that was complete, staff dealt with fire alarm issues, including communication concerns and battery failures, and contacted Advanced Security to address the alarm issues and get on the list for repairs, as needed.

Throughout the day, Charley Batini, the District’s Director of Maintenance, Facilities, and Operations, communicated with several principals and provided updates about sites.  Batini notes, “This is not a normal occurrence – much like on any bigger project our crew works on, staff rallied where they were needed.  I am thankful our team members were available and willing to do whatever it took to make sure the facilities were safe and secure.”

At the end of the inspection, the following damage/issues were noted:

  • Minor damage to light lenses in a classroom at Lafayette Elementary;
  • Several heater registers were displaced at the District Office;
  • A sprinkler head was damaged on the construction site for the new gymnasium at Eureka High School, resulting in minor water damage; and
  • Plaster fell from the ceiling in the Eureka High School (EHS) Auditorium, which will require a bid for repairs, as the damage is outside of what the Maintenance Crew can repair internally.  
  • Unfortunately, until further notice, the EHS Auditorium will be closed for repairs and further inspection to make sure the building is safe.  

Press Contact:
Micalyn Harris, Executive Assistant
[email protected]
Tel: 707-441-2414