Home, safe, home | Sept. 2

[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Screen-Shot-2016-09-01-at-4.53.01-PM.png” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionposition=”left”] [aesop_character name=”Lori Woods” caption=”Signal Hill Mayor ” align=”center” force_circle=”off”] Since we never know when a regional emergency or natural disaster could occur, we should consider our emergency preparation plans for wherever our family members may be throughout the day. My last few articles have covered ideas for emergency preparedness at home, while traveling and at work. Now that many children are beginning the school year, we should consider ideas about emergency preparedness at school.
Become familiar with the emergency preparedness plan for your child’s school. This is an important part of the emergency planning process.
School personnel and students will practice emergency drills on a regular basis during the school year. These drills will include:
• “Duck, cover and hold” procedures
• Evacuation
• Intruder (lock-down)
• Shelter-in-place
• Complete site evacuation
Emergency and crisis situations can happen at any time, so it is critical to keep your family contact information current. Make sure there is a current list on file at your child’s school of family members and friends who are authorized to pick up your child, with their current contact information. Photo identification may be required.
It is also important to develop a family plan:
• Each member of the family should know basic contact information from memory
• Each member of the family should have more detailed written contact information easily accessible
• Establish a meeting place for the family to reunite
• Have a three-day minimum emergency supply of food, water, and first-aid
• Develop and keep handy an emergency “grab-and-go” kit
• Practice your plan
All schools have emergency preparedness plans to minimize risks and to evaluate and relocate students, teachers and school staff from harm during an emergency. Procedures are also in place for situations that require everyone to remain in the building rather than leave campus. Please visit the school website and look for safety, emergency preparedness and/or evacuation plans.
If your child is a student in the Long Beach Unified School District, the emergency preparedness procedures are available on the district’s website at lbusdk12.ca.us. This information is intended to give you a better understanding of the safety procedures the school district has in place in the event of an emergency.
There are still seats available for the free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training scheduled for September at the City of Signal Hill Emergency Operation Center located in our police department. Contact Richard Johnson, Emergency Operations coordinator for Signal Hill at (562) 989-7239 or rjohnson@signalhillpd.org to reserve your seat and for more details.