It was 1985 and as an Army Officer I was escorting a senior Department of Defense Civilian Secretary. I had picked him up in a car. It was early evening and was taking him to an event at a nearby, very plush, conference facility. I remember it because I recall telling him that an earthquake had just occurred in Mexico City.
That was in 1985, but the lesson taught from the photo included with this blog post (even though it is not the best quality) is clear. A few flimsy school desks are holding up concrete floors from a collapsed school.
Drop, cover and hold is primarily meant to protect you from nonstructural elements that will fall from the ceiling or from nearby desks, shelves, etc. But, in a worst case scenario of a building collapse (which is not likely here in the USA) being under something like a desk, work station, etc. could save your life.
