MODESTO CITY SCHOOLS Administrative Regulation AR 6114 INSTRUCTION Agency: Modesto City School District and Modesto High School District Effective Date: October 21, 1980 Authority: California Administrative Code, Title 5, Article 2, Section 560 which requires all public schools to have written emergency operation plans. Approval: Objectives: Implementation: The plan was prepared in cooperation with the County Office of Emergency Services and has been approved by City and County Emergency Services offices. The plan must also be on file at the office of the County Superintendent of Schools. The primary objectives are to save lives and property in the event of any type of disaster. Each individual school site shall adopt a site emergency action plan to carry out the objectives stated in the District plan. SECTION I--GENERAL CONDITIONS 1. Training: The emergency plan shall be reviewed with all school site staff members. Written records of training or drills shall be maintained. Parents shall be informed of these plans as they need to be assured the District will do all that is possible to safeguard the children. AR 6114 (a)
School employees, by law, are disaster workers and in the event of extreme emergencies are required to stay with and care for the school children. All staff members shall be assigned specific duties. 2. Transportation: The use of school buses in case of an emergency cannot be assured; therefore, all pupils walking to school will be sent home on foot. Schools are not equipped to take care of large groups for long periods of time. It is best that where possible, children be sent home. If no transportation is available and it is unadvisable to have the children walk home, the pupils will remain at the school under staff care and supervision. Public broadcasts will inform parents to pick up their children as the emergency lessens. The District is responsible for returning students transported out of their normal attendance area. These students will be returned to the bus pick-up area. If special transportation is needed, individual schools will arrange for this in the site plan. 3. Facilities: The County of Stanislaus Office of Emergency Services and the City of Modesto, with District approval, have designated schools as Congregate Care Centers in specific disasters. 4. Records: During an alert, classroom roll books must be taken by the teacher. These books will be essential in keeping an accurate record of students. Each time a class relocates or reassembles, roll must be taken. When a class moves, a staff member shall check rooms to see that no pupil is left alone. AR 6114 (b)
SECTION II--WARNING SYSTEM 1. The County of Stanislaus, through its Office of Emergency Services, will provide warning of actual or probably disasters which affect schools. These warnings may come directly from the County or through the City of Modesto and/or the County Superintendent of Schools. 2. In an internal situation at one school site, the principal will make the decisions as to the appropriate course of action. The Superintendent and other emergency services will be notified immediately by the principal/ designee. 3. The District Office, after receiving a warning, shall notify all schools and sites within the District. 4. Internally, each school will use the following uniform system to warn students and staff of emergency actions to take. (Modifications may be made to fit into a particular school's communication system.) Action Standby Go Home Leave Building Take Cover All Clear Signal One minute continuous bell Long bell, 15 second pause, bell Use fire alarm signal Series of short bell rings 10 second bell, pause, repeat 5. "Take Cover" action is different depending on the location of students and staff and also the type of disaster. AR 6114 (c)
A. Inside: Get under desk or table with back to windows. Body position is on knees, with both hands clasped behind neck and face buried in arms. The body should be as small as possible and eyes should be kept closed and ears covered with forearms. B. Outside: For earthquake, move away from building and take cover with body positioned as above. In a surprise explosion or war attack, get hear any solid object such as ditch, tree or curb, and lie prone with head away from blast sound or light. Cover the head and face and as much of the exposed skin as possible. The eyes should be closed and ears covered with the forearms. SECTION III--WAR-CAUSED DISASTERS 1. Warnings The Federal Government implements the warning and transmits it to the State. The type of action to be taken will be sent to local points in California by the Department of Justice. The District will receive warning from the County of Stanislaus. 2. Actions A. In all cases when a warning is received, turn the radio on and listen to station KTRB for instructions. AR 6114 (d)
B. If a strategic warning is received, it means action is expected in hours. In this case: 1) Implement action GO HOME or STAND BY; 2) Secure the school; 3) Notify the Superintendent; 4) If children are on playground, bring them to classroom prior to releasing. C. Alert Signal requires that one of the two following actions be taken: 1) Signal action GO HOME; 2) Prepare for an attack and use action TAKE COVER; 3) KTRB will provide specific instructions. D. TAKE COVER signal means implementing the following: 1) Give TAKE COVER signal; 2) Minimize possibility of persons being struck by flying objects such as glass; 3) Turn off utilities; 4) Notify Superintendent, if possible; 5) After attack, take roll; 6) Implement group activity to relieve tension; 7) Do not move from room or sheltered area until told; 8) Organize staff and students for a care period which may last for some length of time. AR 6114 (e)
SECTION IV--NATURAL AND NON-MILITARY DISASTERS 1. Flood A. Receive warning from County; B. Notify staff; C. Implement action GO HOME, if for dam or river flooding; D. If local flood from rain, utility or canal, use action LEAVE BUILDING; E. Arrange for care of students who must remain at school; F. Secure building; G. Contact Superintendent's Office for instructions; H. If to be used by County as a reception area, arrange facility for use. 2. Bomb Threat A. If a call is received that there is a bomb set at the school site: 1) The principal is to be notified; 2) Police or Sheriff is to be notified; 3) Superintendent's Office is to be notified. B. After consultation with the above and fire department personnel, the principal is to determine the action needed. C. Refer to AR 6114.2 for instructions on handling the caller and other details. AR 6114 (f)
3. Chemical Spills A. Action: Determine whether to signal LEAVE BUILDING; B. Determine if staff should take students from school grounds; C. If appropriate to LEAVE BUILDING, insure all rooms are empty; D. Have staff control students and render first aid if necessary; E. Move crosswind to avoid fumes; F. Notify the fire department, police or sheriff, and the Superintendent's office; G. Take roll of students; H. Principal should not take further action until fire department official declares the area safe. 4. Explosion A. If threat, implement action LEAVE BUILDING: 1) Control students and move to safe area; 2) Call fire department, police or sheriff, and the Superintendent's office. 3) Don't return until fire department official declares the area safe. B. If sudden explosion occurs: 1) Use TAKE COVER action; 2) After explosion, teachers should implement action LEAVE BUILDING; 3) Sound school fire alarm; AR 6114 (g)
4) Move staff and students to area where safe and student control can be maintained; 5) Render first aid, if necessary; 6) Call fire department, police or sheriff, and Superintendent's office; 7) Take roll of students; 8) Put out small fires without endangering life; 9) Notify utility companies of break or suspected break; 10) Principal take action based upon interim needs; 11) Do not return to school until a fire department official declares the area safe. 5. Aircraft Crash A. The principal will determine which action command should be used. When necessary, teachers will take action for the safety of students without waiting for direction from the principal; B. All students and staff shall be kept at a safe distance allowing for fire or explosion; C. Call the fire department, police or sheriff and Superintendent's office; D. If type of plane can be determined, such as military, passenger, etc., report this information; E. Render first aid; F. If crash into building, clear area; G. Take roll of students and staff; H. Call utility companies. AR 6114 (h)
6. Railroad Derailment--Follow the procedures as outlines under Aircraft Crash except for item "d." In "d" report type of railroad car involved. 7. Severe Windstorm A. Implement action TAKE COVER; B. Students and staff should be assembled inside buildings; C. Close windows and blinds; D. Remain near an inside wall; E. Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums, libraries, cafeterias, and other areas with large roof spans; F. Evacuate classrooms facing full force of wind; G. Tune radio to KTRB for advisory information; H. If students are moved, take roll; I. Notify utility companies of any breaks or service problems; J. If possible, keep in contact with the Superintendent's office. 8. Earthquakes A. Inside school buildings the following actions will be taken: 1) No warning, so teacher or other person in authority implements action TAKE COVER; 2) As soon as possible, move students away from windows and out from under heavy suspended light fixtures; 3) Implement action LEAVE BUILDING when earthquake ceases. Never allow anyone to run; AR 6114 (i)
4) Post guards at a safe distance from all building entrances to see that no one re-enters for any reason; 5) Do not light any fires; 6) Do not touch any utility lines that may have fallen; 7) Render any necessary first aid; 8) Take roll; 9) Request assistance from agencies if needed or contact County Office of Emergency Services; 10) If possible, call the Superintendent's office; 11) Notify utility companies if any damage; 12) The principal will determine the advisability of closing the school. if possible, the advice of others will be obtained about the safety of the building. B. On school grounds, the following actions will be taken: 1) The teacher or person in charge implements action TAKE COVER; 2) As soon as possible, move everyone away from buildings, trees, and wires. The safest place is in the open. Stay there until the earthquake is over; 3) Use procedures 5 through 12 under "Inside School Buildings." C. On a school bus, the following actions will be taken: 1) The bus operator will pull to the side of the road away from buildings, if possible, and issue command TAKE COVER, when passengers are in the vehicle; 2) The operator shall set the brakes and turn off the ignition; 3) Wait until earthquake is over; 4) Do not light any fires or touch any fallen utility wires; 5) Render first aid, if necessary; AR 6114 (j)
6) Take roll; 7) Contact the Supervisor, Transportation, or if can't be reached, the Superintendent's office for instructions. SECTION V--PARENT INVOLVEMENT 1. All parents should do the following where applicable: A. Show the child the route to walk home from school; B. Inform the child where to go if no one is at home. Be sure the child knows route to nearby relative or neighbor; C. Keep a current emergency alternate name, address, and telephone number on file at the school office. D. If a student is to remain at home, make sure he/she can get into the house; E. Instruct student if responsible for another child; F. Do not drive to school to pick up a student unless the radio station (KTRB) or the school has informed you to do so. Traffic congestion could cause additional problems and endanger lives; G. Become familiar with emergency information sent home from the school. 2. Transportation should be reviewed with students if they are bused. If bused to a school out of the normal attendance area, the student should know the route home from the bus pick-up or return location. REVISED: May 9, 1983