New Hanover County Schools Managing Crisis Events Mitigation/ Prevention Preparation Recovery Response

What Parents Need to Know if an Emergency Occurs Emergency planning in the New Hanover County School District is based upon the concepts of prevention or mitigation of emergencies, emergency preparedness, emergency response, and recovery and return to learning. In responding to an emergency, our staff will be organized according to the nationally recognized incident command system in order to facilitate a unified approach with local, state and national authorities, if needed. During an actual emergency, staff have been trained to implement one or more universal emergency procedures.

What Parents Need to Know About Emergencies at School?

Actions the schools will take if an emergency strikes at your child’s school: Remember, our first and foremost priority is to protect your child. We have planned for and trained for emergencies. Our emergency plans are predicated upon universal emergency procedures and will result in either a decision to shelter at the school or evacuate to a safer location. We will never dismiss unaccompanied students into an unsafe situation or into an emergency situation, even if the situation extends beyond the school day.

Actions the school will take if an emergency strikes at your child’s school: 1. Sheltering: If the building is safe, we will protect your child by doing one or more of the following, depending upon the nature and seriousness of the event: a. Securing the perimeter by locking all outside doors. b. Proceeding to shelter locations if warranted. c. Locking down the school, with all students and staff behind closed and locked doors, if the situation warrants. d. The school will not open doors for anyone except public safety officials during a lockdown or shelter-in- place. e. The school will not attempt to communicate to parents directly during an emergency. f. Communications will flow to the news media, the Alert Now System and the Office of the Public Relations Director. g. Schools will limit the student use of cell phones.

Actions the schools will take if an emergency strikes at your child’s school: 2. Evacuation: If the building is not safe, your child will be evacuated to a safe location. a. The evacuation may be for a short period onto the school grounds. b. The evacuation may be to another location. While possible evacuation locations have been determined for each school, it may not be possible to use these locations. The determination of an evacuation site may be altered to suit the particular situation. c. Buses will be provided as needed to transport students to evacuation locations. d. The school will not attempt to communicate to parents directly during an emergency. e. Communications about evacuation and reunification will flow to the District’s Alert Now Notification System, the News Media and other public sources via Director of Public Relations. f. Schools will limit the students use of cell phones.

Actions the schools will take before an emergency occurs: The schools, in cooperation with District Safety Office and Superintendents Office and local public safety officials will consistently plan for emergency situations. Each school will conduct age-appropriate emergency drills and training for students and will participate in drills and training offered by District Safety Office, local law enforcement and other emergency responding agencies. The District Safety Office will consistently monitor local and national conditions through law enforcement and the news media, and will keep schools informed of pertinent information. Each school will have food and water available for every student for a minimum of 24-48 hours.

Actions parents should take before an emergency occurs: Update the emergency contact information for your child and make sure your child’s school has it on file. Be sure to include any pertinent medical information. If your child is on medication, be sure that your child’s school has at least a 24-48 hour supply. Have a plan for reuniting with your child, including designating a place for your child to go if you or they are unable to come home. Have food, water, medicine and other supplies in your home for at least 72 hours. Protect valuable papers and documents. Go to ready. gov for additional information.

Actions parents should take if an emergency strikes at or near your child’s school. Do not panic. School officials and public safety officials have planned for and prepared for emergencies. Do not call the school. Doing so will hinder necessary communications between the school and public safety or district safety and security officials. Do not expect that the school will call you immediately if an emergency strikes. Our first priority is protecting students, staff and visitors. Information will come through public sources or the news media. Communication from the school will come as soon as possible. Do not come to the school. Doing so will interfere with responding emergency authorities. You will be given instructions as to where and when you and your child will be reunited.

Actions parents should take if an emergency strikes at or near your child’s school. Do remember school officials and public safety officials have planned and prepared for emergencies. Do listen carefully to local news media and the NHCS official web site for information about when and where you will be reunited with your child. Do follow the instructions of local law enforcement and school officials about when and where to be reunited with your child. Do not call your student’s cell phone. The use of a cell phone could distract them or prevent them from hearing important, even life-saving instructions!

Actions students should take before an emergency occurs: Make sure that you know where you will meet your parents if they or you cannot come home for some reason. Make sure you pay attention to what your teacher or principal is telling you during fire or other emergency drills.

Actions students should take if there is a national or local emergency that does not directly affect your school: Understand that the school has prepared for emergencies. You should follow the instructions of your teacher or principal. You should try to focus on learning.

Actions students should take if there is a national or local emergency that does not directly affect your school: Don’t use cell phones during these times, Using your cell phone could distract you or prevent you from hearing important, even life-saving instructions!

Actions students should take if an emergency strikes at or near your school. Follow the procedures you learned in fire drills, tornado drills or other emergency drills. Follow the instructions you hear from teachers, staff members or the public address system.

Remember Managing Crisis Events In Our Schools Is A Task For Every Body