Disaster Procedures

Emergency Preparedness Plan

Pre-Incident Planning

DISASTER PROCEDURES It is the intention of the Board of Trustees of the Claremont Unified School District to provide patrons of the District essential information regarding any occurrence of any emergency--natural or manmade. To best implement this responsibility the following procedure is to be utilized whenever conditions of this nature exits:
I.	Procedures
	A.	When a disaster or emergency condition is reported to the principal or school office, the principal shall initiate such action as may be necessary for the protection of the life and property of students, staff, and other individuals in his/her charge. The safety of students and staff shall, in all instances, be the prime consideration. The actions listed in the "District Emergency Preparedness Plan" and the professional judgement of the certificated person in charge at the time shall serve as the guide.
	B.	The school office at the time of the occurrence shall immediately place the following calls:
		1.	Summon medical assistance if required;
		2.	Summon assistance from the proper civil authorities. This could include, but not be limited to: Fire department; Sheriff/Police Department; and Public Utilities.
		3.	Inform the Office of the Superintendent. When calling say: "This is (give name) School. This is an emergency call. Connect me with the Superintendent." This call shall have priority over all other business. You will be immediately connected with the Superintendent's Office. In the absence of the Superintendent the call will be given to the Superintendent's designee Except when the school office is threatened, a person shall be present to receive and place calls. Only calls related to the control of the situation or those authorized by the Principal, shall be placed.
	C.	The District designee shall inform the Maintenance/Operations' Office personnel and utility companies if necessary. Maintenance personnel will be dispatched to the scene of the occurrence(s). Only calls related to the control of the situation, or those authorized by the Superintendent, shall be placed.
	D.	Office of Director of Student Services will be informed by the Superintendent's Office.
	E.	News media will be alerted by the Superintendent.
II.	Public Information Statement/Procedures
	A.	Under the authorization/direction of the Superintendent, authorized representatives of all information media, including the press, radio, and television, will receive full cooperation from the Claremont Unified School District in the performance of their duties. This will include:
		1.	Equal access to information, prepared statements, or other data of concern not expressly denied by the Education Code for the State of California;
		2.	Reasonable access to the facilities necessary to report the occurrence; and
		3.	Conducted access to the scene of the occurrence.
	B.	The Superintendent shall have complete responsibility for all on-the-scene press releases and interaction with the media.
	C.	The Superintendent, together with the principal, sheriff/police, fire, and other civil (or military) authorities, is responsible for the control and direction of the physical situation.
	D.	D. Requests from news media for statements relating to the occurrence are to be referred to the Superintendent. No District employee is authorized to make a statement to the news media unless so authorized by the Superintendent.
	E.	Names of injured students or staff will not be available to the news media until contact has been made with the parents or family.
III.	Communications If possible, warning of approaching disaster will be relayed from the District Office to each school. However, in the event a school cannot be reached by the usual telephonic means of communication, instructions from the Police Department or other authorized agency shall be accepted as "official" notification. Information regarding natural disasters in Los Angeles County will be relayed from the Public Information Service Office of Los Angeles County. Radio and other means of communications are expected to be used. Battery operated radios will be maintained in each school office to receive civil defense communications or instructions through Emergency Broadcast Stations. (See Radios)
IV.	Care of Children During a Disaster
	1.	In the event of a disaster, all students within a school must be cared for until an "All Clear" signal has been sounded, or the proper civil/military authorities announce transportation by bus (or pedestrian travel) can be resumed.
	2.	Professional judgement and experience in handling students should dictate the procedures to be followed within each school.
	3.	Survival through psychological protection. School Site Crisis Intervention Team mobilized as appropriate. District Team activated as needed. One of the gravest dangers in time of any disaster is panic. School employees, especially teachers should recognize the symptoms of tension and be prepared to provide physical and creative activities. If fears are replaced with actual knowledge, and if students and adults can plan a course of action to follow, there should result an increased feeling of security with a decrease of tension. People become more willing and able to participate in tension-relieving activities if they understand the reasons for doing so. Therefore, the program of disaster preparation in the Claremont Unified School District shall consist of two objectives with reference to psychological protection: Dissemination of accurate knowledge; and Planning a course of action.
V.	It is important that teachers keep their class register or roll book readily available at all times. In the event one group of students is temporarily placed in the care of a staff member other than the teacher normally responsible, the class register or roll book for those students should be readily available. Depending upon time and circumstance, roll should be taken periodically. This will help the teacher maintain close contact with the students; assure the students that someone is concerned for their welfare; assist authorities in locating particular students; and provide officials with accurate data for planning. To aid in the identification of students, teachers will have a set of student emergency cards readily available.
VI.	School Shelter Requirements Any structure should not be abandoned entirely, unless the structure itself is threatened. Students and staff must be trained to get to and use the shelter of a structure. The speed in the occurrence of a disaster accentuates the need for school shelter planning. School shelter planning will apply most specifically to "DROP - TAKE COVER" action due to the probability of short-warning time.
VII.	Shelter En Route Disasters may occur when pupils are coming from or going to school, afoot, in public carriers, in private automobiles, or in school buses. Pupils should be taught how to "DROP - TAKE COVER" in any circumstances which demand such action, taking advantage of the best cover at hand.
VIII.	Emergency Use of School Facilities The Superintendent may direct that school buildings be made available as care centers, aid stations, morgues, etc. This may be done in conjunction with efforts by the American National Red Cross.

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Emergency Preparedness Plan

Pre-Incident Planning

DISASTER PROCEDURES