Emergency preparedness

Frequently Asked Questions

The school district and all schools have safety and security plans that contain procedures to be implemented in the event of a natural disaster or man-made emergency situation. These plans have been developed in collaboration with local public safety officials and are a part of the Pierce Responder system.

What is emergency preparedness?
Sumner School District has developed an emergency response plan to ensure your child's safety while in school. This plan outlines specific responses that schools will take in the event of an emergency situation such as an evacuation or a lock-down. Staff members have assigned roles and duties that are detailed in the plan.

How will my children know what to do in the event of an emergency?
If an emergency occurs during school hours, classroom teachers will provide students with appropriate instructions. Additionally, school officials may provide students with instructions or information about the emergency through the school public address system. Students often practice for emergency situations such as fire, earthquake or intruder and may be very familiar with school emergency responses.

Will schools go into lockdown in the event of a terrorist attack?
Several factors would help school and public safety officials determine the response to a domestic terrorist attack. The safety of students and staff members will be the primary concern in any decision.

What is Shelter-in-Place?
If a dangerous chemical or a hazardous spill posed a threat to students during the school day, the district would be directed by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, public health and/or local public safety officials to bring all students and staff members into predetermined areas of the building. All heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) would be shut down, and all doors and windows would be closed and secured. The resulting neutral atmospheric pressure would form a barrier and help keep chemical agents from leaking into the building. This approach has proven to be safer than evacuating students into a contaminated outdoor environment.

During a Shelter-In-Place incident, school district facilities impacted by the contaminated air will be secured. No one would be allowed in or out of a building until authorized by local public safety officials. While we protect our students in the school building, we recognize that for their own safety, parents and community members in the affected area would be sheltered in their homes or at work.

What measures are being taken for students in portables?
All students and staff members in portables would be brought into the main school building in the event of an accident or attack that created contaminated air or other potential risks.

Who can pick up my children from school?
Children will be released to individuals who are authorized on the student's emergency care card or have prior written parent authorization. Schools will also require photo identification when the child is released at the parent-child reunion site.

Parents and guardians are responsible for the accuracy of the information on their child’s emergency care card. If parents have not completed a card, they need to do so. If their information has changed, parents need to update the information.

What is a parent-child reunion site?
During an emergency situation, schools will set-up a parent-child reunion site where students will be released from school at their parent’s request. Many schools have “Student Pick-Up” banners that will indicate the location of the reunion site on the school campus. At the reunion site, students will be released to their parents or others authorized to pick them up upon presentation of proper identification. It is likely that during an emergency, students may not be released at the school office.If school or public safety officials require that a school building be evacuated, students and staff members may be transported to a neighboring school. Parents will be informed of the reunion location through the school email system and local media. This information will also be posted on the district Web site Emergency Operations Status page. Driving directions to other school locations can be accessed from the Web site.

Where is my child's reunion site located?
During emergency situations, circumstances could arise that might force changes to previously designated locations. Parents will be informed of parent-child reunion locations upon arrival at their child’s school, through email messages and will be posted on the district Web site.

What if my child is riding a school bus at the time of an emergency?
School bus drivers are in constant radio communication with our Transportation Department. In the event that an emergency occurs while students are in transport, drivers will be notified to respond appropriately. Busses will be rerouted or may delay arrival or departure to avoid traveling toward the emergency situation such as a school lockdown.

What about my child's medication?
If your child requires daily medications that are necessary for chronic or severe medical conditions such as seizures, severe asthma or allergies, parents should make sure that the school has a three day dosage of additional medication. Talk with your child's school health tech for more information.

Is my child allowed to use a cell phone at school?
During certain emergency situations such as unscheduled school closures due to inclement weather situations, students may use their phones to communicate with parents. In specific emergency situations, such as a bomb threat or during a lockdown, use of a cell phone may endanger students, staff and emergency personnel and will not be allowed. Please refer to your school's student handbook for school policies regarding the use of cell phones.