Lancaster ISD Tornado Shelter Plan

Administrative staff monitors weather and makes call to shelter Incident Commander (IC), usually principal or assistant principal, gives order to shelter Making the Call to Shelter

Move to identified safe areas, the lowest possible level Flying debris biggest tornado hazard Building strength – look for interior location with as many support structures Portable classrooms – not as sound as permanent construction Move students out prior to storm threats Avoid large open spaces - gymnasiums, auditoriums, lunchrooms “Safe Place”

Before the Storm Close all doors and windows Have an air horn or megaphone in case of power failure Make special provisions for disabled students. Account for all students

National Weather Service (NWS) communicates with LISD High risk of severe/tornadic weather LISD notifies parents via School Messenger If they wish to keep their students home, the absence will be excused School will not be canceled

Buses will not begin afternoon routes if the NWS has a tornado warning in effect Warning occurs after buses have departed, buses diverted to nearest school Parents notified of transportation delays via School Messenger, social media, website, news media School Bus Procedures

Parents/guardians wishing to retrieve their students amid severe weather will be allowed to do so even after sirens are activated Student will not be authorized to leave school independently if the NWS has a warning in effect and/or sirens are activated Siren Activation

Sirens are outside warning devices only Provide alerts when electricity goes out and cellular towers out of service No activation due to damage does not mean it is “All Clear” and the storm has passed Wait for verbal announcement from Incident Commander to leave safe area Activated every three minutes, until storm has passed Activated early when Desoto, Duncanville, Midlothian, Waxahachie, Dallas have spotted a tornado May be a delay before the storm reaches Lancaster Stay in safe area until “All Clear” verbal command Sirens

Lancaster ISDs’ Communications Office will communicate with the public before, during, and after any weather event diverts Lancaster ISD schools from normal daily operations Severe weather may prevent use of some communication resources Lancaster ISD campus phones, voice messages, text messages, social media, website and news media used to keep parents/public informed Sonya Cole-Hamilton Director of Communications Severe Weather Communications

Each campus should conduct a tornado shelter drill regularly. Once a month is recommended.