Emergency Procedures - Standard Response Protocol

Secure: “Get inside. Lock outside doors.”

Secure is used when there is something happening outside of the school building or in the neighborhood near the school. When a Secure is called, all staff and students will immediately return to the inside of the building and attendance will be taken. Business as usual will occur inside the school, but no one will be allowed in or out until the Secure is lifted.

You can read more details about what happens during a Secure in the Secure section of the Standard Response Protocol Operational Guidelines. 

Lockdown: "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”

Lockdown is called when there is an active threat inside or coming into the school building. In a Lockdown, staff direct students to immediately get behind a locked door, out of sight of the hallway windows, and be silent. Teachers will ensure classroom doors are locked, lights off, and take attendance. 

If a lockdown is called during a passing period or break, students must find the nearest locking door to get behind or choose to self-evacuate out of the building. If anyone chooses to self-evacuate, they should identify the exterior door they will leave from, ensure they can make it there, run to a safe place, and seek help immediately. 

You can read more details about what happens during a Lockdown in the Lockdown section of the Standard Response Protocol Operational Guidelines. 

Evacuate: “To a specific location”

Evacuation is called to move students and staff from one location to another, usually due to a hazard. There are four types of evacuations that schools could engage in. 

When the fire alarm sounds, staff lead students outside to evacuation areas on school grounds, but far enough away from the building to ensure safety. 
Schools could also determine they need to evacuate to rally points (which are off school grounds, but nearby landmarks) in the area. 
Schools could also decide that they must evacuate and regroup at the school’s specific evacuation location. Every school has 1-2 evacuation sites that are within a mile from the school. 

Lastly, the school district could determine that staff and students must evacuate from a school and be transported to a reunification site to reunite with families at a location away from the school and neighboring area.

You can read more details about what happens during an Evacuation in the Evacuation section of the Standard Response Protocol Operational Guidelines. 

Shelter: “For a hazard requiring taking cover” 

Shelter is called when staff and students are needing to take cover to protect themselves from outside hazards. Most commonly, schools go into a Shelter during severe weather, like a tornado warning or hail warning. Schools can also determine to Shelter if there is a hazardous material or chemical spill exposure in the area. Shelter can involving holding inside classrooms, but away from exterior windows or it can require moving students from classrooms into designated shelter areas within the school building. A shelter area must be an internal space away from exterior windows and doors without vaulted ceilings.

You can read more details about what happens in a Shelter situation in the Shelter section of the Standard Response Protocol Operational Guidelines. 

Hold: “In Your Classroom or Area. Clear the Halls.”

There may be situations that require students to remain in their classrooms. For example, an altercation in the hallway or medical emergency may demand keeping students out of the halls until it is resolved. In a hold, students and staff remain in their classrooms, even if there is a scheduled class change, until the all clear is announced.

You can read more details about what happens during a Hold in the Hold section of the Standard Response Protocol Operational Guidelines.