Evacuation

There are two primary types of evacuations utilized by school districts. One is the typical on-site evacuation, where students are removed from school to a safe location on the premises or nearby property. The most common on-site evacuation is a fire drill where students are directed to leave the building and assemble at safe locations on or nearby the campus. On-site evacuations involve moving students to within walking distance and most often remaining on campus.

The second type is off-site evacuation, where staff and students must be transported to another location for their safety. In off-site evacuation, students are removed from the school to a remote safe location such as a primary evacuation site or directly to the reunion site. An off-site evacuation usually requires transportation.

Typically schools have at least two evacuation locations. The Primary Evacuation Site is a location used to secure individuals from potential harm. The primary evacuation site may also be the reunion site if students are transported to the location; however, at most schools a primary evacuation site is located within walking distance and utilized as a staging ground until students are transported to the designated reunion site.

The Secondary Evacuation Site is usually an alternate location used to secure individuals and minimize harm. This site can be on or off campus and may be used until students are transported to the designated reunion site.

Remember that students should never be released from an evacuation site which should be secured by law enforcement officials. Students should only be released from designated Reunion sites where proper accounting and out-processing can be conducted by school staff while not under the direct pressure of the incident.

Reunion Site

Reunion sites are the only places where parents can claim children after an off-site evacuation. The Reunion site should be well publicized and parents should be informed in advance of the procedures for being reunited with their children. Because of issues with non-custodial parents and concerns about student safety, specific paperwork concerning unscheduled releases should be completed and kept on file with the district. Reunion sites should be located in a secure facility with easy access to transportation and plenty of parking for buses and all parent and support cars (i.e.. civic centers, large churches, fair grounds). Once again, in addition to the physical environment of the reunion site each district should have a formal process for releasing students that includes verification of identification and written documentation of release.

These are some typical duties during a crisis or school incident that you may want to consider for your crisis response plan or training activities.

Principal Response

The Principal may:

• If possible, appoint someone to call 911 and stay on the line.
• Order lockdown over the PA system and/or by computer
• Notify administration
• Stay calm
• Provide as much information as possible on the suspect (s), location, injured, etc. to police dispatcher and officers when they arrive on the scene.
• Keep a cell phone available
• Keep radio channels clear.

Administrative Response

The Administration may:

• Make sure 911 has been notified
• Keep lines of communication open to school/principal
• Call all schools to notify them and especially the ones where students may be evacuated to.
• Order lockdown of all near-by schools and insure that areas are made available for students who will be evacuated to those facilities (clear gyms or parking lots to make room).
• Send a representative to the command post with the district safety box
• Notify transportation, and send the Public Information Officer (PIO) to the designated briefing site. ALL information should be distributed by the PIO only.
• Designate a number and staff “hotline” for parents

Important factors to remember:

• All school/district personnel should have ID cards that can be worn on their outermost clothing so they can be identified during an emergency.
• Administration must have radios to talk with all necessary schools to update information and keep communications open. Provide to responders and hospitals if necessary.
• School has the responsibility for handing out ID cards for those allowed in the perimeter or at the command site.

Teacher Response - Lockdown

• During a lockdown the teacher may:
• Detain students in the classroom
• Check the halls and clear of students
• Keep students calm
• Keep an attendance log of all students in the room and update throughout the evacuation if necessary
• Keep students secure by locking windows and doors
• Not allow anyone in or out until “clear”

Crisis Response Team

The Crisis Response Team may:

• Report to all assigned common areas to secure students
• Insure that a 911 call has been made.
• Insure that teachers have been alerted, especially those who may have heard the announcement or seen the computer warning message.
• Secure the safety box.

Transportation Response

The Transportation Department may:

• Alert drivers and place on stand-by
• Prepare buses to perform evacuation if necessary
• Report to the staging area when requested
• Insure that materials are on board to log students on and off the bus.

Law Enforcement Response

Local law enforcement may:

• Provide quick intervention utilizing Active Shooter measures if necessary
• Take control of the situation
• Secure the scene and students
• Establish Command Center
• Order necessary support from school, fire, EMS, and traffic control personnel to secure other lockdown schools and all transportation and evacuation sites
• Need to obtain all necessary personnel and secure them in the command center to provide support and answer questions.
• Establish a secured area for media and all Public Information Officers (PIO’s) and keep them advised of situation with regular briefings when appropriate.
• Need officers to secure the perimeter, Command Center, and Reunion site at all schools and in the media area.

School District Duties

In order to prepare for school safety incidents, the school district may:

• Establish one location in each school for the Safety Box and inform law enforcement of its location and contents. It will not move the Safety Box not move unless the police are notified.
• Establish a computer access code for emergencies to alert all portions of the school and administration.
• Develop an emergency checklist for all principals at all schools.
• Practice safety simulation sessions.