Last week, Santorini, the famous Greek island known for its whitewashed houses and breathtaking sunsets, made headlines for a different reason—a swarm of earthquakes shaking the region.
Over 200 tremors, some reaching a magnitude of 4.9, rattled the island and its surrounding areas. Schools were closed, emergency teams were deployed, and residents braced for aftershocks.
While officials confirmed the quakes were tectonic rather than volcanic, the event was a stark reminder of how unpredictable our planet can be.
But here’s the thing—earthquakes don’t just happen in Greece. In fact, they’re a real concern right here in the U.S. Yet, many American students have no idea what to do if the ground suddenly starts shaking. As a teacher, that worries me.
Earthquakes in the U.S.: More Common Than You Think
Ask most Americans about earthquakes, and they’ll probably think of California. And yes, the San Andreas Fault makes the Golden State a seismic hotspot. But earthquakes don’t just belong to the West Coast.
Did you know that Alaska is the most seismically active U.S. state? Or that the New Madrid Seismic Zone in the central U.S. has the potential to trigger massive quakes, affecting states like Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas? Even places like South Carolina and Oklahoma have seen surprising seismic activity in recent years.
Did you know that Alaska is the most seismically active U.S. state?
Yet, despite these risks, seismic safety education is often overlooked in American schools—unless you live in a high-risk area.
Santorini’s earthquakes as a teachable moment
The Santorini earthquakes provide the perfect opportunity to teach kids about earthquakes, safety, and the science behind them. Here’s what we should be teaching students in all U.S. schools, not just those on fault lines:
What causes earthquakes?
A simple, engaging explanation of tectonic plates, fault lines, and seismic waves.
How to stay safe during a quake
The “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” method should be as familiar as fire drill procedures.
Why earthquake-resistant infrastructure matters
Students can learn how different countries (like Japan) build structures designed to withstand quakes.
Global connections
Using events like the Santorini quakes to discuss how earthquakes affect people worldwide.
Why U.S. schools should prioritize seismic safety
For many students, earthquakes feel like something that happens somewhere else. That false sense of security is dangerous. The reality is that earthquakes don’t send invitations—they strike when least expected. Teaching kids how to respond quickly and calmly can mean the difference between panic and survival.
I still remember the first time I did a Great ShakeOut drill with my students. Some laughed, some rolled their eyes, and a few whispered, “This is pointless, we don’t have earthquakes here.”
But by the end, they understood. Disasters don’t check ZIP codes before striking, and being prepared is never pointless.
A small effort for big safety
The Santorini earthquake swarm reminds us that nature plays by its own rules. As educators, we have a responsibility to prepare students for the real world, and that includes teaching earthquake preparedness, whether they live in California or Connecticut.
If we treat earthquake safety with the same seriousness as fire and tornado drills, we’re not just teaching science—we’re teaching lifelong survival skills.
And that, to me, is a lesson worth learning.
