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School Safety Planning

A weather event or violent incident can occur at a school under a variety of circumstances, so no one set of guidelines is able to cover specific actions to take in every situation.

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Even so, familiarity with the following information can help with planning for the safety and security of your children. Schools are encouraged to engage in an All-Hazards approach to their planning in order to prepare for a wide range of events that could occur. These events can range from power outages, weather events, intentional acts and more.

During an emergency at your school, you may receive information via automated text alerts, phone messages, radio and television announcements, over a public announcement system or police and first responders, etc.

Take Action Before your child goes to School

New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management in conjunction with other federal, state and local agencies have implemented a comprehensive strategy to assist schools in planning for emergency events. This planning strategy is an on-going process working in partnership with the schools in your area. Further information about the NH School Safety Program and school safety in general can be found on the New Hampshire School Safety Resources page.

In addition to the above resources, some basic guidelines are outlined below:

Steps to Be Ready

  1. Complete the Family Emergency Plan pdf file and discuss it as a family. This is a simple way of keeping each member of the family informed on critical information: where to reconnect should you become separated, who to call, and what you will do should an emergency occur at your school.
  2. Complete the Emergency Contacts Card pdf file and place one in your Emergency Kit.
  3. Prepare an Emergency Kit. The Emergency Kit should be easily accessible should you and your family be forced to shelter in place (stay at home) for a period of time.

Be Safe During a School Emergency

If an emergency happens at your school, it is important to know how to stay safe.

Be Safe If the Danger is Outside the School

  • Proceed to a room that can be locked. On your way to the room, tell as many people as possible to do the same.
  • Lock all doors and windows and turn off the lights. Have one person in the room call 9-1-1 and be prepared to advise the dispatcher of your location, name, and the number of people in the room with you, any and all information about the danger or threat including the location.
  • Remain in the room until advised by emergency response personnel to exit the building.

Be Safe When the Danger is Inside the School

  • Determine if the room you are in or near can be locked or otherwise secured. If so, follow the procedures as indicated above.
  • If the room can't be locked or secured, locate the nearest exit and determine whether or not you can exit the building safely.
  • If you can safely leave the building, do so.

Take Action After a School Emergency

Once you are in a safe location, keep in mind that danger may still exist and you need to exercise caution. Emergency response personnel such as police and fire will arrive and begin to take action. Remain at whatever assembly point authorities designate until you are released and obey the commands of police and fire personnel.

Portable Document Format Symbol Portable Document Format (.pdf). Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems.

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