The Alexandria City Public Schools, Office of Safety and Security encourages families to review these helpful tips on emergency guidelines and procedures (click this link). Students and staff cover emergency preparedness guidelines and procedures throughout the school year.
Crisis Management Terminology: Types of Action
Secure the Building
Building is locked and students are brought inside as a precaution. No one is allowed to enter or exit until status is lifted.
Threat: External to facility
Examples:
• Law enforcement activity near location
• Reports of dangerous wildlife in the area
Action: High Alert (prepared to act)
• Building staff and students: principal and/or designee will announce
• Families: Email notification will be sent
Further communication will be shared if the situation impacts daily instruction. If you or your student have yet to arrive at the location, please remain at home until further instruction is given.
Lockdown
Building put on lockdown due to potential danger inside or very near the building. No entry allowed. Staff and students take the following action(s): evacuate or barricade in place (if unable to evacuate).
Threat: Internal to facility/near proximity to facility
Examples:
- Violent intruder or Active Threat
Action: Activate Crisis Management Plan
How will you know?
• Building staff and students: principal and/or designee will announce. Independent action may be necessary if unable to announce
• Families:
o Auto call/text to families
o Website notification
Updated communication as the situation progresses. If you or your student have yet to arrive at the location, please remain at home until further instruction is given.
Evacuation
Students and staff are moved to a new or safe location due to a situation in or near the facility. Evacuation may be structured (as a group) or independent.
Threat: Internal to facility/near proximity to facility
Examples:
- Fire alarm/ Gas leak
Action: Activate Crisis Management Plan
How will you know?
• Building staff and students: principal and/or designee will announce
• Families: Email notification will be sent
Updated communication as the situation progresses and as needed. If you or your student have yet to arrive at the location, please remain at home until further instruction is given.
Students and staff are moved to a new or safe location due to a situation in or near the facility. Evacuation may be structured (as a group) or independent.
Threat: Internal to facility/near proximity to facility
Examples:
- Fire alarm/ Gas leak
Action: Activate Crisis Management Plan
How will you know?
• Building staff and students: principal and/or designee will announce
• Families: Email notification will be sent
Shelter
Updated communication as the situation progresses and as needed. If you or your student have yet to arrive at the location, please remain at home until further instruction is given.
Students and staff are instructed to take safe shelter due to an incident in or near the facility.
Threat: External to facility
Examples:
• Tornado/earthquake
• Other natural or local disaster
Action: Activate Crisis Management Plan
How will you know?
• Building staff and students: principal and/or designee will announce
• Families: Email notification will be sent
Updated communication as the situation progresses and as needed. If you or your student have yet to arrive at the location, please remain at home until further instruction is given.
Reunification
As a result of many of the above scenarios, students may need to be reunified with families through a controlled release at the school or reunification at a new location. Our goal is to reunite students with their families as soon as possible during an emergency situation. We will work with police and fire agencies to determine when it is safe to reunite students and families.