Emergency Preparedness

Drills and Exercises
Emergency drills and exercises are a central part of the preparedness stage of the crisis planning cycle. When faced with an emergency situation, people respond as they have trained – which is why firefighters and other emergency responders frequently participate in emergency drills and exercises. Practicing emergency responses and skills in schools may someday save lives. School emergency plans must be exercised and practiced to discover potential weaknesses and reach maximum effectiveness.

Required drills and exercises:

• Fire Evacuation
• Shelter-in-Place
• Modified Lockdown
• + Full lockdown Schools: Defining the Emergency Terms and Action Steps: This brief YouTube video was developed specifically for Washington state schools to assist in their preparedness efforts. It covers: Shelter-in-Place, Lockdown, Sheltering for Inclement Weather, and required actions to take for each type of event.

Washington's Safe School Plans legislation requires that all schools have at least six fire evacuation drills, one lockdown drill, one shelter-in-place drill, and one drill using the school mapping system each year. Schools should also consider drills for high-risk events such as earthquake, tsunami, lahar, and floods. These drill requirements are also codified in fire code (PDF), which requires that one drill be conducted each month school is in session.

OSPI's School Safety Planning Manual defines and explains these emergency drills and exercises. The manual also offers the following downloads:

• Modified Lockdown Template
• Full Lockdown Template
• Shelter-in-Place Template
• Initial Guidance on Drills
• Model Emergency Drill Reporting Form

"What to do to Make it Through" Drawing Contest:
The “What to do to Make it Through” campaign invites students to participate in a drawing contest to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for natural disasters. The contest is open to elementary school students in King, Kitsap, Island, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish and Thurston counties. Find out more.

NIMS & ICS - School Preparedness

• Presentation (PDF)
• Resources (PDF)

Weather Preparedness
Climate Prediction Center, The National Weather Service

• September is Weather Radio Awareness Month (PDF)
• Advisory: Fall/Winter 2011/2012 La Nina Watch (Available in Spanish)
• Extended Fall Weather (PDF)

Natural Disaster Preparedness
Emergency Management Division: It is the mission of the Washington Emergency Management Department to minimize the impact of emergencies and disasters on the people, property, environment, and economy of Washington State.

• Emergency Management Information - 2012: To help ensure student, staff and school safety, the Washington EMD encourages us all to continue our efforts to protect families, homes, communities, and schools from disasters. The attached flier provides information on upcoming EMD events, including the “Great Shake Out” in October, 2012.
  • Emergency Management Division Flier (PDF)
• Publications and Activities for Children and Classrooms (PDF)
• National Preparedness Month (PDF)
• Educator Memo 2011
• WMD In Focus In Focus provides information and resources to help schools in their responsibility to educate and train students and staff in effective disaster preparedness behaviors. Disaster News This site provides emergency public information from the Washington Emergency Management Division.
• Seismic Safety in Washington: Information on geologic hazards across the state to identify our earthquake threats and the most accurate, credible, and up-to-date scientific earthquake information to the public and emergency management community.
• Tsunami This sites provides tips and information about tsunamis and tsunami preparedness.

Natural Disasters & Severe Weather
This Web site is the Centers for Disease Control and prevention’s information and resources site for preparing for and responding to natural disasters and severe weather conditions.