Earthquakes are a perpetual threat to California's school buildings. School administrators must be aware that hazard mitigation means much more than simply having a supply of water bottles in the school; it means getting everyone involved in efforts to prevent tragedies from occurring in school building in the event of an earthquake. The PTA in Berkeley was dissatisfied with their school's earthquake preparedness and took their concerns to the district, as well as involved the larger PTA Council. The Hayward fault in Berkeley was the focus of the PTA's investigation. After heavy lobbying by the PTA, the School Board voted to allocate $193,000 for earthquake preparedness. The School Board identified four key tasks: (1) develop a districtwide disaster-preparedness plan; (2) provide training for staff involved in the plan; (3) stockpile emergency medical supplies; and (4) conduct structural and nonstructural hazard assessment. In an assessment of the school buildings around the Hayward fault, two schools were identified as hazards if an earthquake struck. The School Board voted to close one school completely and the other partially. One year later six more schools were identified as unsafe. Financial support for renovation and construction of hazardous schools was needed. In 1992 a ballot measure that proposed to raise $158 million for school reconstruction was passed. (KDP)