Emergency Preparedness

A major responsibility for school districts is to provide for the safety and welfare of all students and staff as well as create an environment for learning on each school campus.

1. The District has formulated policies and procedures for:
   • Fires
   • Civil defense
   • Earthquakes
   • Chemical spills
   • Bomb threats
   • Plane crash
   • Floods or inclement weather
   • Smog episodes
2. Placards are posted in classrooms and offices which indicate evacuation routes.
3. Emergency cards are on file for all students and staff.
4. Fire and drop drill maneuvers are clearly outlined and understood.
5. Policy on the release of students to parents or guardian is established.
6. Policy on the release of school and district staff and their emergency assignment is clearly understood.
7. Procedures for use of school facilities as emergency shelters are clearly outlined.

Claremont USD has implemented and continues to maintain the following:

• Annually updates a comprehensive, district-wide disaster preparedness plan and site-specific plans for all schools.
• Provides training for all staff in the elements of the plans, as well as an instruction program in first aid and CPR.
• Acquire and stockpile emergency and medical supplies for all district schools, back-up communication equipment, and two days worth of food and water at each school site.

Scenario

In the event of an earthquake:

1. Inside the school building
   1. If students and/or staff are inside the school building at the time of an earthquake, they should:
      1. Move away from windows or other potential hazards.
      2. Get under desk or table or other shelter or against inside wall. If shelter moves, hold on and stay under.
      3. Assume drop position and be silent so directions can be heard above the noise of the earthquake.
      4. Stay in drop position until earthquake is over or until further instructions are given.
   2. After the initial shock and things settle down, teacher will evacuate classroom, being alert to possibility of aftershocks.
   3. When leaving classrooms, teachers should make every effort to take with them the roll book and emergency supplies stored in the classroom.
   4. Teachers will take classes to pre-arranged places on the playgrounds/fields and will remain there until re-entry to school buildings has been approved, or they are directed to take the children elsewhere, or the children have been picked up by parents or other authorized persons.
2. Outside the school building
   1. If students and/or staff are outside the school building or walking to or from school when an earthquake occurs, they should:
      1. Get clear of all buildings, trees, exposed wires, or other hazards that may fall. The safest place is in the open.
      2. Assume drop position until quake is over.
   2. After the earthquake, if on the way to school, continue to school. If on the way home, continue home.

During an extended period after an earthquake:

1. The superintendent or designee will:
   1. Check status at the school, the district office and of buses.
   2. Evacuate district office if necessary and set up command post.
   3. Confer with police, fire department, and city officials regarding situation at the school and in the community.
   4. Determine plan for continuation of school following a disaster.
   5. Notify principals and radio stations so that parents can be informed of the situation and next steps to be taken.
   6. Release principal when all students and staff have been released.
2. The principal will:
   1. Appoint guards to see that no unauthorized person goes back into the building(s) until the building(s) have been declared safe.
   2. Post traffic control at school gates to keep parking lot free for emergency vehicles.
   3. Assess total school situation and report back to the superintendent or designee.
   4. Announce location of disaster and first aid centers; call on principal's designee(s) to operate the first aid center.
   5. Direct the recovery of all disaster-related and medical supplies, equipment and information from the first aid supply stations.
   6. Oversee conservation and distribution of water.
   7. See that parents and guardians are notified as soon as possible of any serious injury to students; if necessary, send injured children to emergency centers designated by the City of Claremont.
   8. Release students according to the established school site plan.
   9. Release teachers at the principal's discretion.
3. The teachers will:
   1. Remain with their class group, or report to the disaster center if they do not have a class group.
   2. Be in charge of all first aid for the students in their class group until an emergency first aid station is established. Students with major injuries are to remain in the classroom supervised by one teacher from a buddy group; children with minor injuries are to be cared for after evacuation. Use bottled water until notified that water system is safe. Use red flag emergency kit to signal major first aid needs whether on the field or in the classroom.
   3. When evacuating classroom take emergency kit.
   4. Check with buddy classes when evacuating. If there are seriously injured persons who cannot be moved, assign one teacher to remain. Other teachers evacuate the rest of the children.
   5. Take roll. Send notice to disaster center immediately of any student who is not with the class group, noting possible whereabouts, (e.g., at library, absent from school). Take roll periodically throughout the disaster period.
   6. Note on class roster in emergency kit the name of anyone, who for any reason leaves the class group: to go to first aid center, disaster center, home, home of authorized person.
      1. Be specific in noting names and addresses of those to whom students are released if other than parents.
      2. Note on records time child was released.
      3. Record any unusual behavior or any first aid given.
   7. As the time period extends, remind students that they are in perhaps the safest place possible under disaster conditions. Fill in time with games, songs, stories, exercises, and rest periods.
   8. Report to the principal when all students have been released.
4. The nurse will:
   1. Assist the injured.
   2. Help staff the emergency first aid center when it has been set up.
5. The secretarial staff will:
   1. Under the direction of the principal, provide for the preservation of essential school records.
   2. Monitor radio emergency broadcasts.
   3. Funnel volunteers to locations where needed.
6. The custodians will:
   1. Check water, gas, and electricity; if so directed by the principal, turn off utilities and intake valve on water heater.
   2. Assist in any fire-fighting or recovery activities.
   3. Assist the principal in establishing controls to prevent the use of contaminated water.
   4. Help set up emergency sanitation facilities if needed.

Throughout this plan, all key persons have been designated by role. It is assumed that each of these persons will have one or two people trained as "back ups" to carry out their responsibilities if necessary.