General Discussion

Amaryllis

(11,244 posts)

121. We did duck and cover. Also, one time they had a"drill" where a bunch of moms

Sat Apr 15, 2017, 07:21 PM

Apr 2017

(nearly all stay at home moms then) came in their cars and evacuated all the kids from the school out into the country. (I lived in a fairly small town with country not too far away.) Apparently going out to the country was supposed to keep us safe in the event of a nuke attack, and apparently it was assumed we would have enough warning that the moms could be rounded up and come drive us all out in the country to safety before the nuke exploded. It was fun getting out of school.

THis was sometime 1955-1960.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

198 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

OK - how many of you actually DID the "Duck and Cover Drill" in school? [View all] jpak Apr 2017 OP

Me age 7 Mrs. Stine's class. redstatebluegirl Apr 2017 #1

During the Cuban Missile crisis - the sonic booms were continuous jpak Apr 2017 #3

I lived on base in ok during the Cuban misleading crisis. There was a base lockdown, the guys were o notdarkyet Apr 2017 #44

We watched Huntley and Brinkley with my Dad every night during the CMC jpak Apr 2017 #82

I was taking a night class at Portland State Univ. Paka Apr 2017 #148

Yo wryter2000 Apr 2017 #2

Me in Spokane during grade school 1950's. nt leftyladyfrommo Apr 2017 #4

Air raid shelter Scarsdale Apr 2017 #122

Me, 1954 elleng Apr 2017 #5

I never did it in Oregon. Paka Apr 2017 #143

NYCity, 4th grade elleng Apr 2017 #146

I did in elementary school. scarletlib Apr 2017 #6

That's what I remember, hiding under your desk with your arms over your head. Mrs. Price's 2nd grade Rhiannon12866 Apr 2017 #195

Me, Central Florida, same time csziggy Apr 2017 #7

'59 - 62 in Panama City FL & SW Georgia. Moved to Oklahoma Aimee in OKC Apr 2017 #176

OMG - that would give me flashbacks! csziggy Apr 2017 #178

Same here Gothmog Apr 2017 #8

I did. even as kids we made fun of it. spanone Apr 2017 #9

We took it seriously jpak Apr 2017 #15

Giant spiders & ants from those movies scared me sleepless irisblue Apr 2017 #51

I did from 1972 -1979 at least. onecaliberal Apr 2017 #10

Me, 1960s treestar Apr 2017 #11

Me, in Jacksonville, Florida 1962 iwillalwayswonderwhy Apr 2017 #12

Wow - that is bizarre jpak Apr 2017 #19

I was born in 1987 so I obviously didn't. nycbos Apr 2017 #13

Yay for the 80s IronLionZion Apr 2017 #58

We went down to the basement gym uppityperson Apr 2017 #14

I think I did - barely remember rurallib Apr 2017 #16

Me. AJT Apr 2017 #17

Yep in the 50's the siren would go off then duncang Apr 2017 #18

I did that, only they called it a "tornado drill." GoCubsGo Apr 2017 #112

The "disaster drill ". nocalflea Apr 2017 #20

We were told to keep our eyes shut and not look at the flash. jpak Apr 2017 #25

Glad I didn't live in that school district. nocalflea Apr 2017 #30

Oh, God, I forgot about that. I was 8 when they signed the treaty. catbyte Apr 2017 #107

First grade. 1962. Boston maveric Apr 2017 #21

Me, 1968 in elem. school. Our school middle school was a bomb shelter. woodsprite Apr 2017 #22

Born 1950-never TexasProgresive Apr 2017 #23

New Orleans Roy Rolling Apr 2017 #53

New Orleans, McDonough #14 colorado_ufo Apr 2017 #139

In elementary school (1950s) Golden Raisin Apr 2017 #24

First grade, so '65. Igel Apr 2017 #26

We did. Late 50's to 60. Greybnk48 Apr 2017 #27

Me, age 7 Warpy Apr 2017 #28

Me, all through grade school and through to graduation in '65. n/t rzemanfl Apr 2017 #29

Me, 50's, SoCal. Shrike47 Apr 2017 #31

Me. revmclaren Apr 2017 #32

My family kept the camper loaded up. duncang Apr 2017 #63

My parents did build a bomb shelter in our CA back yard. deurbano Apr 2017 #142

I did, late '50's to early '60's 50 Shades Of Blue Apr 2017 #33

Me GP6971 Apr 2017 #34

Me too ananda Apr 2017 #35

K&R! stonecutter357 Apr 2017 #36

Mid 60s through 1970ish... WePurrsevere Apr 2017 #37

Did it several times. One of my friend's father would not let him make snow ice cream. Lint Head Apr 2017 #38

Where? Fallout from US testing in Nevada killed Utah residents. L. Coyote Apr 2017 #168

I did that, yortsed snacilbuper Apr 2017 #39

I did, from about 1955 until about 1962. We also gathered in the hallway a couple of times a year. George II Apr 2017 #40

Me. redwitch Apr 2017 #41

Yep! n/t RKP5637 Apr 2017 #42

1961 in Department of Defense schools in Germany. 1962, too, another base in Germany. japple Apr 2017 #43

I lived in South Florida. You better believe we did it. ancianita Apr 2017 #45

There were several military bases around Detroit. irisblue Apr 2017 #46

Spent two days in a bombshelter Lifelong Protester Apr 2017 #47

That must have been terrifying. Chemisse Apr 2017 #64

The Twilight Zone aired 'The Shelter' episode the year before the CMC jpak Apr 2017 #72

Big books Roy Rolling Apr 2017 #48

I can't remember the year CanonRay Apr 2017 #49

Yes! KT2000 Apr 2017 #50

Yes! watoos Apr 2017 #52

Hand up, here. TygrBright Apr 2017 #54

Me! BadgerMom Apr 2017 #55

Moi aussi. Born in 1949. Mid-50's drills. School hallways, also. Local park has an air-raid bunker. WinkyDink Apr 2017 #56

Me. Demtexan Apr 2017 #57

I remember doing it -once.- heckles65 Apr 2017 #60

Ha - I evacuated to a school in coastal Georgia during a hurricane many years ago jpak Apr 2017 #66

I don't recall ever doing duck and cover FuzzyRabbit Apr 2017 #59

As I child I was led to believe it was survivable. Chemisse Apr 2017 #69

On the Beach made a lasting impression on me jpak Apr 2017 #98

We had rapid dismissals Sanity Claws Apr 2017 #61

Yes I remember it well... iamateacher Apr 2017 #62

I did. But only for a year or two. LAS14 Apr 2017 #65

Catholic school in Alexandria, VA in 1959. Mr.Bill Apr 2017 #67

Me... PoiBoy Apr 2017 #68

I did. Grade school. n/t Tess49 Apr 2017 #70

3rd grade/1967 BeyondGeography Apr 2017 #71

I did, Mendocino Apr 2017 #73

Me and Mr. whathehell whathehell Apr 2017 #74

Raising hand NastyRiffraff Apr 2017 #75

Yes. Late 50s. dchill Apr 2017 #76

Yep. 1963 and 4, in first and second grade. PDittie Apr 2017 #77

Many times ... NanceGreggs Apr 2017 #78

Similar to many in elementary school where it was either under the OldHippieChick Apr 2017 #79

Me Moral Compass Apr 2017 #80

Me. MBS Apr 2017 #81

Born in 1965, never did it. N/t FSogol Apr 2017 #83

PS,did you know that schools have active shooter drills now? FSogol Apr 2017 #88

Yes, I have school age kids and it terrifies them n/t kcr Apr 2017 #191

If I remember correctly.......... mrmpa Apr 2017 #84

Naw. Alabama didn't believe in that shit. trof Apr 2017 #85

Me sarge43 Apr 2017 #86

I did! Silver Gaia Apr 2017 #87

I'm the right age, but don't remember ever doing that. raccoon Apr 2017 #89

in CA in 70's we did it for earthquake all the time TalenaGor Apr 2017 #90

We lived in Florida BHDem53 Apr 2017 #91

I Don't Remember Doing That Leith Apr 2017 #92

Did they play the film for you too?... PoliticAverse Apr 2017 #93

I did late 50's. GentryDixon Apr 2017 #94

Me and my classmates TNNurse Apr 2017 #95

Me. Early sixties. Grade school. N_E_1 for Tennis Apr 2017 #96

ME Omaha Steve Apr 2017 #97

Me IN 1952 in No. Indiana.... onecent Apr 2017 #99

Elementary school, Los Angeles, 'sixties. hunter Apr 2017 #100

Grade school 1963 Throck Apr 2017 #101

During one drill I was marched to principles office randr Apr 2017 #102

And people wonder where the hippies came from jpak Apr 2017 #106

Good call randr Apr 2017 #151

Me, October 1962, in Mrs. Brock's one room school grades K-6. I was 7 catbyte Apr 2017 #103

Remember in the 80s when that idiot was predicting earthquakes? askyagerz Apr 2017 #104

During the 1960's shadowmayor Apr 2017 #105

Posts make me think of what actual war does to children and anxieties & horrors delisen Apr 2017 #108

It was something we lived with. Demtexan Apr 2017 #118

I think I just missed out on that fun elmac Apr 2017 #109

Both Mr. Tikki and I did...and because we lived near nuclear reactors we did the mock.... Tikki Apr 2017 #110

Nukes and Polio were existential threats back then jpak Apr 2017 #113

We did have some polio cases from before the vaccine in our town. Tikki Apr 2017 #124

Kids in my class had polio. My wife had it and still has repercussions. stevebreeze Apr 2017 #141

Started Kindergarten in 1968 ... jb5150 Apr 2017 #111

We had an actual bomb shelter in our school basement! Mars and Minerva Apr 2017 #114

I did. From 1957 (kindergarten) until 1962 (fourth grade). livetohike Apr 2017 #115

Last one was November 1980 at my Catholic School. AngryAmish Apr 2017 #116

Me. Grade school. nt babylonsister Apr 2017 #117

Every first Friday of the month for early elementary school nini Apr 2017 #119

I did. . . They were still doing them in 1965. BigDemVoter Apr 2017 #120

We did duck and cover. Also, one time they had a"drill" where a bunch of moms Amaryllis Apr 2017 #121

I lived in Jackson, MS from 1948 -1963. We did tornado drills in schools, which given Grammy23 Apr 2017 #185

REmember the air raid shelter signs? Amaryllis Apr 2017 #123

In 1954 the worst thing in the world was the bibiki jpak Apr 2017 #134

Not only that, I lived on a SAC base during the crisis and we had alerts. nolabear Apr 2017 #125

Yup. 1950's. Philadelphia. dhol82 Apr 2017 #126

Me. warmfeet Apr 2017 #127

50's and 60's in LA srobertss Apr 2017 #128

I'm still too scared to come out, and TheCowsCameHome Apr 2017 #129

Sure did. madamesilverspurs Apr 2017 #130

I don't ever recall doing that, and I was in school at that time. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2017 #131

I did in the early sixties as a grammar school pupil. Portland_Anni Apr 2017 #132

In Charleston, SC...early 60s Sancho Apr 2017 #133

I did madokie Apr 2017 #135

everyone moved to an all brick room in the center of the building AND stevebreeze Apr 2017 #136

Me...1954 Pauldg47 Apr 2017 #137

Me, as late as 1966 or 67 Auggie Apr 2017 #138

Me. greatauntoftriplets Apr 2017 #140

Yes. 1950s. Stinky The Clown Apr 2017 #144

I did. murielm99 Apr 2017 #145

I did, in elementary school SouthernLiberal Apr 2017 #147

Yup. Ms. Toad Apr 2017 #149

60's GS During HS benld74 Apr 2017 #150

Many times, yes. MineralMan Apr 2017 #152

Third grade during... prairierose Apr 2017 #153

Yes, in the 50's. MuseRider Apr 2017 #154

1960's - Never ThoughtCriminal Apr 2017 #155

Did both the hallway and under-the-desk versions in the late 50s and early 60s. 3catwoman3 Apr 2017 #156

I did, in elementary school in Connecticut in the mid-50s kskiska Apr 2017 #157

I did, definitely solara Apr 2017 #158

I did in 1956-1961 or 1962 Lebam in LA Apr 2017 #159

Yup, Nevada in the 50s, along with atomic bomb testing. JohnnyLib2 Apr 2017 #160

I did in grade school. appleannie1943 Apr 2017 #161

Same date 5th grade, including yearly drills. The gordianot Apr 2017 #162

Why? Eko Apr 2017 #163

Me too. Through the 1960s. TheBlackAdder Apr 2017 #164

Yep. Saw the film and everything Kablooie Apr 2017 #165

Whose neighbors built a bomb shelter? L. Coyote Apr 2017 #166

1950s here eleny Apr 2017 #167

1965 D.C. bigtree Apr 2017 #169

1963 CountAllVotes Apr 2017 #170

Born in Wisconsin in 53.....You betcha dembotoz Apr 2017 #171

I was 7 at the time and we WhiteTara Apr 2017 #172

Central SD country grade school-1950's jack69 Apr 2017 #173

I'm the right age, but I have no memory of ever doing the duck and cover drill Brother Buzz Apr 2017 #174

Me in early - mid 60's Yupster Apr 2017 #175

At least twice a year, once always in xmas74 Apr 2017 #177

Born in '47, San Fernando Valley, "practice bomb drill" when sirens went off... Hekate Apr 2017 #179

We did it a couple times a year in grade school. dflprincess Apr 2017 #180

Yo mahina Apr 2017 #181

I Did Through Grade School. Also... JimGinPA Apr 2017 #182

Me, grade school from '63-'67. denbot Apr 2017 #183

Me and my brother, in the sixties, in Clearwater, Florida. In the school hallway. Nay Apr 2017 #184

Went to school 1954-1966 in rural eastern Ohio never did any duck and cover. With doc03 Apr 2017 #186

I did...early 60's. nt cry baby Apr 2017 #187

Yep. We always did it right after a fire drill. n/t trackfan Apr 2017 #188

As close as we lived to Ellsworth AFB it didn't make any difference. bearssoapbox Apr 2017 #189

I did, area51 Apr 2017 #190

We had these regularly in elementary school from ... surrealAmerican Apr 2017 #192

Yep... AncientGeezer Apr 2017 #193

Not Exactly, but same purpose Progressive dog Apr 2017 #194

We never experienced anything like duck and cover drills in the 80s. bathroommonkey76 Apr 2017 #196

We did. Born in 1958. Our school was also a "fallout shelter" like THAT would have helped :) n/t phylny Apr 2017 #197

. Iggo Apr 2017 #198