In the event of a weather emergency, the following team will be assembled when the emergency is identified. Their role is to develop plans and execute them.  Communication may come in various forms, including through the Alertus/RAVE, emails, text messages, or verbal methods.

A weather watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a severe thunderstorm, snow event, tornado, earthquake, or hurricane.

A weather warning means that severe weather is imminent.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM 

• Associate Head of School - Incident Lead - or his/her designee

• Chief Financial and Operations Officer - Communication with insurance and legal

• Director of Campus Safety and Security - Liaison with law enforcement/emergency responders

• Dean of Students - Student management (including attendance)

• Director of Technology - Consults on type of technology available for messaging

• Chief Communications Officer -Makes decisions about content and delivers messaging to families and media. 

• Director of Human Resources (as needed) - Employee liaison; considering the impact/need of employees, communicates with employees

• Director of Health Services (as needed) - Medical planner and manager

• Facilities Director - Power/utility manager, assess campus physical damage/debris

COMMUNICATIONS

The team will have a pre-established group communication to enable quick communication in the event of an emergency.  Groups will be established through RAVE alert, text group, phone tree, and email group.  Associate Head of School and their designee may initiate the communications. 

Unexpected events requiring urgent response, communications occur through the Safety and Security department (RAVE alert, radio, athletic staff/coaches via radio).

The Emergency Response Team may also meet via Zoom, conference call, or in a physical location (Science lecture hall), depending on the situation.

The team will determine whether the event requires only essential staff and initiate “Essential Staff” protocols.  An email to staff & faculty will be sent by the Director of HR when the protocol is planned, and the Director of Safety & Security will send this email when it is an unexpected event.

ROLE OF COMMUNITY, ADULTS, AND DEPARTMENT LEADERS

Adults guiding students to safety

Managers guiding their department/team to safety

Accounting for all community members (explore Orah for students, RAVE for adults, and train how to do a roll call)

Students

Employees

Non-employee residents

DEBRIEF EVENT 

Following an emergency event, the Emergency Response Team gathers to debrief and, as needed, revise policies and procedures.

Storm, Lightning & Snow Events

Outdoor Activity Protocol

Immediately suspend play at the first thunder or lightning.

Follow the 30-30 Rule:

• If thunder occurs within 30 seconds of lightning → seek shelter.

• Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming

Safe Shelter Includes:

• Fully enclosed buildings

• Hard-topped vehicles (not golf carts)

NOT Safe:

• Bleachers

• Dugouts

• Tents

• Under trees

• Open fields

• Metal structures

Tornado

There may not be enough time for a warning to be issued before a tornado strikes. 

• Immediately seek shelter in the sturdiest structure you can find.

• Go to the basement or interior of the lowest level of the building, away from any windows. 

• Do not get on elevators!

• If there is no basement or lower level, go to the center of a small (interior if possible) room, such as a closet or hallway, away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.

• Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. 

• Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck.

• Do not open windows. 

• Do not exit the shelter until instructed to do so by a competent authority or via mass notification system.

If in a vehicle: 

• Exit the vehicle immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. 

If outside with no shelter: 

• Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding and flying debris

• Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.

• Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, exit the vehicle immediately and seek safe shelter.

• Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries. 

• Take attendance after the event.

Earthquake

If you are indoors: (If you smell gas, vacate the building immediately.)

• Do not use lighters, matches, electric switches, or electronic devices until you arrive in a safe space away from the gas leak.

• DROP to your hands and knees. 

• COVER your head and neck with your arms. This position protects you from falling and provides some protection for vital organs. Because moving can put you in danger from the debris in your path, only move if you need to get away from the danger of falling objects. 

• If you can move safely, crawl for additional cover under a sturdy desk or table. 

• If there is low furniture or an interior wall or corner nearby and the path is clear, they could provide some additional cover. 

• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. 

• HOLD ON to any sturdy shelter until the shaking stops. 

• DO NOT run outside! STAY where you are until the shaking stops.

• DO NOT get in a doorway, because that does not provide protection from falling or flying objects, and you likely will not be able to remain standing.
  
  

If you are outdoors:

• If you can, move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.

• Once in the open, DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON. 

• STAY THERE until the shaking stops.

If you are in bed:

• STAY there, and COVER your head and neck with a pillow. 

• At night, hazards and debris are difficult to see and avoid; attempts to move in the dark result in more injuries than remaining in bed.

In a moving vehicle:

• It is difficult to control a vehicle during the shaking, so stop as quickly and safely as possible.

• Stay in the vehicle. 

• Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. 

• Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that may have been damaged by the earthquake.

Hurricane

The National Weather Service can generally predict a hurricane’s landfall up to 36 hours in advance. In the event of an impending hurricane, the school’s emergency response team will provide specific instructions on evacuation procedures.