Children's Center Preschool emergency plan and procedures

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS

To prepare for the eventuality of a natural disaster, the Children's Center has taken the following steps to make our school and staff more disaster ready:

      • Offered staff training in the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)

      • Scheduled school-wide fire, earthquake and lockdown drills throughout the year.

      • Worked with the Los Altos Police Department to develop an Emergency Operations Plan for the school and continue to maintain an active relationship with the department.

      • Equipped each room with a backpack for teachers containing emergency supplies.

      • Prepared detailed maps of the school identifying evacuation routes and utility locations.

COMMUNICATIONS DURING A DISASTER

After a major widespread disaster, you may not be able to get home right away due to blocked roads or other hazards. Phone service may be down and you may not be able to contact someone else to pick up tour child from school. Out-of-area phone service is more likely to be available, so establish an out-of-state contact that your family members and friends can call to relay your condition and get information on other family members (see below). Here are tips for creating an effective communications plan:

1. Ask three or four people who are usually home during the day to be responsible for picking your child up from school if you will not be able to get home immediately. These people should be listed on your child's emergency card.

2. Develop a system of notifying your designees if you need someone to pick up your child. For example, ask them to call your out-of-state contact to find out if you have reported in yet and if they need to pick up the child.

3. Make certain that your designees know about the school's evacuation and student release procedures. Remind them that they will need to show ID in order for the child to be released.

4. Make sure your designees and the school has your out-of-state contact's phone number. Ensure that the person who picks up the child knows to call your out-of-state contact to tell them that s/he has the child. If your child is not picked up within twelve (12) hours, the school will attempt to call your out-of-state contact to determine your status.

EVACUATION PROCEDURES

In case of a major earthquake or other disaster, students may be evacuated from their classrooms. Depending on the magnitude of the incident, the school may be closed until further notice. Students will evacuate to the designated parking lot and wait to be released to a parent or authorized designee.

Your cooperation is necessary during a disaster.

1. Do not call the school. Telephone lines may be needed for emergency communication.

2. The Children's Center has established an out-of-state contact for post disaster information. After a major disaster local phone lines may be down. You may call Cathy Thoma at home (503) 645-7616, or her cell phone (971) 226-6062 after an emergency to get updated information regarding the children, staff and their location.

3. If you are within Los Altos city limits, turn your radio to 530 AM for emergency announcements, including school closures and other important information.

4. Parents and designees MAY NOT pick up children until all students and staff are accounted for and the director approves the release of students. NO EXCEPTIONS.

5. Help us protect your child during a disaster, please be patient with the student release procedure.

STUDENT RELEASE PROCEDURES

1. Parents should remain in their car. Please enter the school through the main entrance and place your child's laminated name card in the lower left corner of your windshield, in front of the driver. If you do not have your name card the student release team will create one while you are waiting in line in your car.

2. When you pull up, the student release team will check your driver's ID and tell the next free Escort the child's name and room number. The Escort will bring your child to the release area and hand your child's emergency card to the Recorder and stay with your child.

3. While your child and Escort are in route to the release area, the student release team will get your signature on the Student Accountability Report and on any Notice of First Aid Care forms.

4. Upon receiving your child's emergency card, the student release team will match the driver's name with the authorizations on the emergency card. If this driver is authorized, the Escort will take your child to the car and ensure that the driver buckles the child in before leaving.

5. Please exit the out the Foothill Expressway exit (see map).

Students WILL NOT be released to an individual not listed on their Emergency Card. NO EXCEPTIONS.

After you or a designee has picked up your child, remember to call the out-of-state contact as soon as the child is in a safe location.

Bring picture ID or your child will not be released to you.

*Note: For more information please download the Disaster Information Booklet for Parents.