Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Guidance for ... - INEE Toolkit

delivery methods set into motion. In this case, normal student-release procedures would beapplied. In some situations, schools may be the shelter-of-choice for the local community.In the case of violence (person with weapon, terrorist activity) administration should announcea lockdown.Question #2—Is the building safe? The second question is whether the building is safe.If the building is unsafe then building evacuation should be immediately triggered. In thecase of rapid onset hazards such as fire and earthquake, the building must be assumed to beunsafe, and therefore cautious building evacuation should be automatically triggered. (Notethat during earthquake shaking, everyone should “drop, cover and hold on” and that evacuationshould only begin once the shaking has stopped.) In other situations a rapid assessmentcan be made before evacuation. If the building is safe then the students and staff should beinstructed to shelter-in-place. Reverse evacuation is practiced for orderly return from assemblyarea back into classrooms, to shelter-in-place.Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Guidance for SchoolsQuestion #3—Are the school grounds are safe? If school grounds are safe then assembleand shelter outside is the procedure. If school grounds are known to be unsafe (e.g., incoastal area with tsunami risk) then automatic evacuation to safe haven should take place.A rapid assessment (e.g., of hazardous materials, fallen power lines, pipeline ruptures) willhelp decide between these two options.In all cases, following assembly, reassessment should take place periodically and one ofthese actions maintained. In the case of real disasters and emergencies incidents, emergencystudent release procedures should be initiated, ensuring that students are returned directlyand only to the care of parents/guardians or their pre-designated emergency contacts, andeach reunion documented. Students should remain cared for and supervised until the laststudent is reunited and the All Clear is given by the incident commander (explained in thenext section). In the case of drills and small events a reverse evacuation may be practiced toreturn to class, prior to ”All Clear” instruction and resumption of classes.Building evacuation, evacuation to safe haven and assemblyprocedureAdministration: sounds fire alarm; makes announcement to students and staff. In case offire, close doors and windows. In case of hazardous materials, close ventilation system. ActivateIncident Command System as appropriate. Monitor and provide updates and instructionsas available. Maintain communication. Announce any new procedure. Announce ”AllClear” when emergency has ended.22