Emergency Preparedness

The Sumner School District works in partnership with local law enforcement, public safety and county emergency management to prepare for emergency conditions in our schools. Each school has developed and implemented a comprehensive plan for responding to a variety of natural disasters and hazardous situations including earthquake, lahar, fire, bomb threat, and hazardous materials incidents. Staff and students practice appropriate responses including evacuation and shelter-in-place.

Our system for managing school emergency situations provides students, staff and parents with a plan and a sense of security. Student safety is our focus and guides our decisions. Staff members have been assigned specific tasks they are responsible for during an emergency situation. Exhibiting leadership during a school evacuation or providing first aid are as important as communicating information to parents and organizing student relocation centers. Our facilities are equipped with emergency supplies, radios and equipment that may be necessary to shelter students for two or three days.

Emergency Operations Center
In the event of a districtwide emergency, school administrators have designated an Emergency Operations Center to provide support for students and staff at each school. Local law enforcement and emergency management officials will communicate directly with the district to coordinate response plans and maximize resources, ensuring that assistance is available where it is most needed. District communications and release of information to the media will also be directed from the Operations Center.

Emergency Messages
When you subscribe to School Messages, you will also receive up-to-the minute announcements by email regarding student and school status and unscheduled school closures. In the event of an emergency school closure, evacuation information and parent advisories will be posted on the Emergency Operations Status page.

Keep School Safe
Report unsafe or threatening activity by calling the toll-free Safe Schools LifeLine anonymous tip line: 1-866-LIVE TIP ext. 161

Safe Schools LifeLine

Lahar Response Plan
Living near Mt. Rainier has potential hazards that include eruption, lava or ash fall and mudflows known as lahars. Pierce County Emergency Management, the U.S. Geologic Survey team and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have joined together to create a plan for responding to any Mt. Rainier emergency that may occur. The Sumner School District has been an active partner in planning and preparing for the evacuation of all schools located in the valley as might someday be required.

Lockdown and Modified Lockdown
From time to time, local law enforcement agencies alert our schools to potential risks that require the school to implement a precautionary safety protocol known as a lockdown.

In a lockdown, exterior and interior doors are locked. Students are told to stay away from windows and keep low. Curtains or blinds are closed. Lights are off. Only quiet talking is allowed. Students who are outside at recess or in a PE class come back into the building. Signs are posted on doors instructing anyone who tries to get inside the building to leave the school premises immediately. Staff has been trained to take the situation very seriously, with an assumption that an intruder could actually be in the building.

The modified lockdown takes similar precautions but allows more movement within the building. Students may continue to work at their desks with lights on. They may go to the restroom. No one, however, may enter or leave the building—staff, students or parents.

Earthquake Response Plan
Students and staff practice “Drop, Cover and Hold” as a response to earthquake.

What Does It Mean?
Drop – under something sturdy and taller than you are
Cover – the back of your head and neck with one arm
Hold on – in case the thing you’re under moves
Close your eyes – protect your eyes

Earthquakes in Washington (printable brochure)

For more information about emergency and earthquake preparedness, visit these Web sites:

FEMA Earthquake Preparedness
Red Cross Earthquake Preparedness Information

Pierce County Emergency Management’s Web site has information about the recent earthquake in Japan and what it means to us.

PC-NET in Action: Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Disasters
Recent windstorms, power failures, and flooding should be wakeup call to all of us that the Pacific Northwest is not immune to disasters. Pierce County Neighborhood Emergency Teams (PC-NET) is an award winning program that helps neighbors develop personal preparedness plans and learn how to respond to immediate needs in their neighborhood following a disaster.

The very nature of disasters overwhelms emergency responders and they will not be able to help individual citizens immediately. Individuals and families need plans to get through at least seven days following a disaster. Using skills most adults already have, PC-NET members form teams to help check on neighbors and perhaps even save lives. They also help by providing professional responders with important information about injuries and damages in their neighborhood.

PC-NET works in partnership with crime prevention programs to make neighborhoods safer. Together they form a network that strengthens the entire community. Training is offered through a series of six meetings over the course of a year to a year and a half, held right in the neighborhood. This program is free for citizens. For more information call 253-798-6595.

Pandemic Flu
An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide. Part of preparedness is maintaining overall good health and using basic prevention measures such as covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and washing your hands often. In the event of a pandemic flu event the District will comply with instructions issued by the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department.

School Closures
Unscheduled school closures due to inclement weather, natural disaster, or school emergencies may occasionally occur. Updated information regarding school status, student evacuation and parent pickup points is available on the Web under the Emergency Operations Status page, is emailed to all School Messages subscribers and recorded on our emergency hotline at 253.891.6001. Additional school closure information is available from the Public Schools Emergency Communication System.

Shelter-In-Place Procedures
Shelter-in-Place is a short-term solution to a short-term problem. Staff and students may be directed to respond to hazardous materials incidents, chemical spills or terrorist actions in this manner. More information is available on the Shelter-In-Place page.

Limited Bus Transportation
School closure information and emergency bus transportation information is on the District Web site. During inclement weather we’d like to remind you to listen to the radio between 6 and 8 a.m. if you believe there are hazardous traveling conditions. Radio and television stations will be announcing schedule changes. If Sumner School District is not mentioned, normal operations will prevail. Please do not call the school offices or the District office for information.

In the event of an early dismissal due to inclement weather, television and radio stations will be notified prior to dismissal time. School closure information will be listed on the Web site and emailed to School Messages subscribers during limited conditions. If you will not be home, please instruct your child as to where he/she should go in the event of an early dismissal due to emergency conditions. If buses cannot navigate the roads, students will be returned to their schools.

Communications Tips
Be patient – we will communicate with you as quickly as possible.
Check the Web site or call the Emergency Hotline (253) 891.6001 for updates.
Please don’t call the school; it jams the phone lines.
Be patient – your child’s safety is our first priority!

How Families Can Help
Take care not to become part of the problem by rushing to the school. More traffic just makes it difficult for emergency response teams.

Keep emergency cards up-to-date with correct phone numbers and names of people authorized to pick up your children.

All adults who are picking up children should remember to always bring photo identification.

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