Emergency preparedness

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.

In the event of an incident like this, the school district will make every effort to communicate the status of our students to you and the community. We encourage you to visit your school Web page and register to receive email updates to your home or office computer. The school district will also use its Web site and local media outlets to broadcast messages.