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What is emergency preparedness?

Emergency preparedness is basically preparing the steps that will be taken in the event of an emergency, such as contact information, communications, and evacuation plans. Crisis response plans have been developed at the district level and for every school to ensure the safety of students and staff.

 How can parents stay informed?

General emergency messages, changes to school schedules and school closings are publicized through the local news media.  Parents are encouraged to listen to radio or television.  The district also includes updates on its web site (www.westosoisd.esc2.net) and through voice mail on the main telephone line ((361) 855-3321).

 How will schools handle an emergency situation?

All WOISD school facilities have an emergency preparedness plan.  The specifics of each plan differ for each location.  The response to each situation will differ based on the specifics of that situation.  The flexibility of the plan is key to the success of the response.

 In general, each plan involves the designation of a crisis management team; development of evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown procedures; preparation of a portable crisis kit that contains key information and supplies; designation of one or more appropriate evacuation sites; provisions for training personnel and updating the plan; checklists for dealing with specific types of incidents; and resources for help before, during and after an event.  All WOISD school plans have been reviewed within the last 12 months, and school crisis teams have received training.

 Can parents review the security plans at their children's schools?

For the safety and security of the students and staff, WOISD does not release this type of specific information.

 What will WOISD do if an act of war or other emergency situation occurs while students are in school?

The specific actions taken by WOISD in any emergency situation-both district wide and at individual schools-will depend on the specifics of the situation.  Any action taken would depend on several factors, including the level of threat and the advice of local, state, and federal agencies.  The safety of students and staff members will be the primary concern in any decision.

 What is lockdown?

An emergency may prevent the safe evacuation of a school building and require steps to isolate students and faculty from danger by instituting a school lockdown.  In a lockdown situation, all students are kept in classrooms or other designated locations that are away from the danger.  Faculty members are responsible for accounting for students and ensuring that no one leaves the safe area or classroom.  School personnel will also secure building entrances, ensuring that no unauthorized individuals, including parents, leave or enter the building.  Parents will be permitted access to the building and to their children once it’s safe for them to do so.

 In the event of a terrorist attack or other emergency situation, will WOISD go into lockdown?

The specific actions taken by WOISD in any emergency situation-both district wide and at individual schools-will depend on the specifics of the situation.  Any action taken would depend on several factors, including the level of threat and the advice of local, state, and federal agencies.  For instance, if the threat does not warrant a full lockdown, schools may be advised to lock only exterior doors and to keep students inside but allow them to move within the building.  The safety of students and staff members will be the primary concern in any decision.

 What is shelter-in-place?

Shelter-in-place is a short-term solution to a short-term problem.  If an accident or attack that created contaminated air occurred in the nearby area, everyone would be brought indoors, including those in portable buildings.  Building personnel would close all windows and doors and shut down the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC).  This would create a neutral pressure in the building, meaning the contaminated air would not be drawn into the building.

 Shelter-in-place is designed to use a facility and its indoor atmosphere to temporarily separate people from a hazardous outdoor environment.  The alternative would be to evacuate into a hazardous situation, thereby causing harm to all involved.

 Because a shelter-in-place situation would last only minutes or hours (not days), no stockpiling of water and food is needed.  Any event of a magnitude that required such stockpiling would require that we all take our direction from the federal emergency management officials.  Once the air outside the school is safe to breathe, children will be released to their parents.  WOISD personnel do not intend to keep children from their parents in those situations but will be endeavoring to keep children safe for parents until the parents can pick them up.

What measures are being taken for students in portable buildings?

If an accident or attack that created contaminated air occurred in the nearby area, everyone would be brought into the school building, including those in portable buildings.

 What if a child is exposed to a biological or chemical contaminant?

In the event of an exposure-and the child is showing obvious symptoms of such-staff members on hand would conduct basic decontamination and emergency response personnel would be called.

 What is basic decontamination?

Basic decontamination involves separating a child suspected of contamination from other children and directing him/her to wash thoroughly with soap and

water.  If possible, school personnel would make sure that the child showered and would provide alternative clothing.  The exposed clothing would be put in plastic bags, and the bags would be sealed.  Removing a contaminated person's clothing effectively removes in excess of 80 percent of contaminants from the person.

 What is a parent reunification site?

If public safety officials require that a school building be evacuated, students and staff members will be safely transported by bus to a designated parent-student reunification center.  Parents will be informed of the parent-student reunification center location via the district web page, phone systems, and local media.  At the reunification center, students will be released to their parents upon presentation of proper identification.

 Why can't the evacuation and parent reunification locations be announced ahead of time?

WOISD does not release this type of specific information due in part to security concerns.  In addition, during emergency situations, circumstances could arise that might force changes to previously designated locations.  Parents will be informed of parent-student reunification center locations via the local media and through school resources.

 Are schools stockpiling food and water?

The school system is taking action to make sure that schools and offices have the appropriate resources available for a short-term event.  In the event of a large-scale event, WOISD would rely on federal and state authorities for assistance.

 What about children's medication?

If a child takes medication regularly, parents should make sure that the school has an appropriate amount of additional medication on hand.

 What if children are riding a school bus at the time of a crisis?

School bus drivers will be in contact with the district's Transportation Department for instructions in the event that a crisis occurs while students are in transport.  Bus drivers will be instructed not to travel toward the crisis location.  Parents will be informed of parent-student reunification center locations via the local media and through school resources if students must be transported to an alternate location.

Can parents pick up their children?

Parents are allowed to pick up their children unless public safety officials have declared a shelter-in-place response, or there is some other reason why access to the facility is restricted to ensure that children are safe inside the schools.  However, school is not automatically canceled in emergency situations.  During any emergency, school personnel will maintain as safe and normal environment for children within the school as is possible.  Remember, school may be the safest place for children to be.

 If evacuation to another site is necessary, parents will be informed of the parent ­student reunification center location via the district web page, phone systems, and local media.

 Who can pick up children?

Children will not be released to individuals who are not authorized on the student's emergency care card or who do not have written parent authorization.  The emergency care form is completed by parents and guardians at the start of each school year.  Parents and guardians are encouraged to update their emergency cards as needed throughout the school year.

 Friends and neighbors may sign a child or children out with written permission from a parent or parents.  Schools prefer to have written permission on the day that a child's pickup will change, but schools will also keep written permission on file.  School offices will keep the permission notes--usually they will attach them to the emergency care card(s) of those involved.  Schools will also ask for identification when the child is released to the one(s) mentioned in the permission note.  It is advisable to communicate with the teacher as well, perhaps with a copy of the signed written note.

 Can parents contact their children?

Parents are asked not to call the school in emergency situations so phone lines can remain accessible for handling the specific situation.  Parents will be kept informed via the web page, phone system, and local media.

 Are students allowed to have cell phones at school?

High school students are allowed to have cell phones at school but they are not allowed to have them turned on during the school day.  In the event of an emergency, students will be allowed to use their phones to communicate with parents when specified by the principal.  It is important to recognize that in an emergency situation; however, cell phone circuits may become overloaded, interfering with the ability of emergency responders to communicate.  Students' use of cell phones during an emergency will be appropriately limited.  More information on cell phone use in schools is found in the Student Handbook.

 How will my children know what to do in the event of a terrorist attack? Parents should inform students that if a crisis occurs while they are in school, their teacher will provide them with appropriate instructions.  Parents are also encouraged to prepare a family disaster plan and practice it so that everyone will remember what to do if a disaster does occur.  Everyone in the household, including children, should play a part in the family's response and recovery efforts.  Teach your children how to recognize danger signals, including what smoke detectors and fire alarms sound like.

Will children be allowed to view events via live television or radio reports?

Live coverage of a potentially violent event can be too graphic for children so teachers have been directed to limit television viewing in the classroom, particularly for younger students.

 How are field trips handled?

The impact of any critical situation on field trips--both district wide and at individual schools-will depend on the specifics of the situation.  If the situation warrants, all field trips will be canceled.  Cancellations could also include travel to academies, community programs, and other events.  There may be circumstances that could require the cancellation of field trips to certain areas.

 All school buses are equipped with radio communications with the transportation office.  If a field trip is under way and must be recalled, buses would be directed to return to the school or a designated safe area.  Any such decision would be announced through the district web page and school phone system.  Parents are reminded that WOISD retains the right to cancel any field trip for safety reasons and is not responsible for any financial obligations parents may have.

 For additional questions, please contact your campus principal.

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