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Disaster/Tornado
Drill Policy
District policy CKC (local) states that principals shall conduct emergency
drills to assure the orderly movement of students
and personnel during severe weather. The accepted and recommended signal
for these drills
is a series of uninterrupted or continuous short
bells. One long bell signal call is clear and students should be returned
to class.
1. The principal should select an area of the building to be
used for shelter by each class or section of
the building. In selecting
the sheltered area the principal should look
for interior hallways that do not run parallel
to the southwesterly direction and are
located on the ground floor of the building.
- If
possible gymnasiums, auditoriums or other rooms with
wide freespan roofs should not be used. Also, areas
with a great deal of glass
should not be used. It is very important that
all staff members and all students know where
the designated shelter area is located.
- The principal
should contact the building’s architect in
selecting the safest areas of the building. The
district’s
director of new construction will assist you
in contacting the architect.
2. The principal should designate
an outside area, well away from the building
and power lines, for assembly
should it become necessary
to evacuate the building.
3. During periods of
severe weather, particularly when a tornado watch
is in effect (a tornado watch occurs when
weather conditions exist which make a tornado possible)
specific staff members should
be assigned to monitor the building’s cable television and
the city’s early warning sirens/speakers.
- Your local fire department or other public safety operations
will broadcast official information over the telecable, sirens
and speakers.
Commercial radio and television may not be reliable
for you.
- Be sure to check with your cable operator (Allen, Dallas, Richardson
and Plano have different ones) to determine which
channel to monitor.
- Staff members should also be assigned to watch the sky for large
masses of dark rolling clouds. When information
is received of a tornado warning (which means a tornado has been
spotted) or when
a staff member spots a tornado, the principal
should send occupants of the building to the designated safe areas.
- When sent to the designated areas, teachers should (if possible)
carry their roll book, and if time permits, identify
each student present in the area.
- Once in the sheltered area all persons should assume a protective
position by kneeling on their knees and elbows
with their foreheads on the floor and covering their heads with
their hands. Persons
in wheelchairs or other persons who are unable
to assume this position should assume whatever position that affords
them the most protection.
It is recommended that those in wheelchairs not
be removed from their wheelchairs, as this will limit their mobility.
- If a tornado or other storm should hit the building, persons
should remain in the sheltered area until it passes. The area
should then
be carefully inspected for downed electrical
lines and other hazards. Before leaving, the area should be checked
for injured persons.
If possible, one staff member should remain with
the injured while others direct the remainder to predesignated
assembly areas. Once
in that area, the principal should assign one
staff member to insure that emergency help is summoned.
- Next, the principal should have a list compiled of the students
who are present, those known to be injured and
left in the building and those who cannot be located.
- If a tornado appears so quickly that the above action cannot
be followed, all occupants should seek cover at once. For those
inside
the building, heavy furniture provides good protection.
Interior closets also provide shelter. Once in the sheltered area,
persons
should assume the protective position.
4. Anyone caught outside should not attempt to run to the building
unless he or she is absolutely sure to arrive before the tornado
strikes. Instead, the person should take shelter by assuming the
protective position on the ground. If a ditch, creek or other depression
is close, the person should take shelter in it.
5. If a school bus is caught in the open when a tornado is approaching,
the occupants should be escorted to a nearby ditch or other depression
where they should lie face down with their hands covering their
head.
6. These procedures should be practiced at the building level at
least one time each semester. The drill should be recorded on the
monthly emergency drill report and sent to the Director of Security
Police Services.
- It is recommended that these drills not be practiced by transportation
unless permission is received from the Director of Security Police
Services and or the assistant superintendent.
- Students are not to be exposed to danger or inclement weather for
the purpose of practicing these procedures.
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