Crisis Preparedness
Safety and Security is Our Top Priority
The safety and security of our students and staff are top priorities for Middlesex County Public Schools (MCPS). It is important for families and the school community to understand some of the procedures that have been planned and practiced in the event of an emergency in our schools.
Our school administrators work closely with the Sheriff's Department, fire, emergency services and public health to ensure our Crisis Management Plan reflects best practices and all schools are prepared for emergencies. MCPS has an organized, systematic emergency operations plan in place to reduce risks or prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from a crisis situation. Personnel are trained how to respond in emergency situations to protect the safety and well-being of the children we serve.
We are prepared to work in partnership with emergency responders should a critical incident occur in one of our schools. Our comprehensive emergency plan addresses a multitude of potential incidents, not because we expect them to occur, but because we want to be prepared in case they do. For security reasons, specific details are not made available to the public; however, parents and students have a vital role and it is important that you know what to do in an emergency. Please review information in advance of the school year, to make sure you and your child understand the emergency procedures.
What is an emergency?
An emergency is any unexpected incident that could possibly put your child’s safety at risk. It could be anything from a disruption in utilities to inclement weather and could affect one child, one school, or the entire school district.
School officials, with coordination of emergency responders, will evaluate the seriousness of each situation and determine the best action to respond quickly, safely and appropriately. Advanced planning and preparation can minimize the risks in any emergency situation. The following information offers guidelines for preparedness, what parents should do, and what the school will do in the event of an emergency. Communication procedures and student release procedures are also outlined.
What can parents do to prepare for an emergency?
Parents have an invaluable role in preparing their children for emergencies. Listed below are some of the ways you can help them understand that if an emergency occurs at school, teachers and school officials are trained to handle the situation.
Reassure your child that you will be contacted by the school and you will be reunited with them as soon as it is safe to do so.
Be sure emergency contact information is current and correct in PowerSchool. Contact the school secretary immediately whenever your work, home or cell number changes.
Keep the school nurse informed of any medical conditions or physical limitations your child may have or medications your child may be taking. Provide the necessary medical supplies and medications for daily use.
Identify who is authorized to pick up your child if you are not able to respond. Make sure their contact information is current and correct. Please understand your child will only be released to parents and persons identified on the emergency contact list. Discuss this information with your child.
Make sure your child knows their parent or guardian’s name, address, and phone numbers. If there is only one parent or guardian, your child should have contact information for a second responsible adult.
Talk with your child about the importance of remaining calm and following instructions in the event of an emergency. If an emergency occurs while they are at school, their teacher will provide them with appropriate instructions and information.
Let your child know they could be moved to another location until you can pick them up. Explain the term “relocation” so they are not afraid of being evacuated from their school.
Explain that cell phones should not be used during an emergency unless directed to do so by a teacher. Texting may be the preferred method of communication. Emergency responders will depend on cell phones for communication. If students and parents are trying to contact each other, cell phone circuits may become overloaded, interfering with the ability of emergency personnel to communicate vital information.
Whenever you are on school grounds, remain alert to activity in and around the school. Report any suspicious activity to school administration and/or law enforcement so they can investigate.
Establish a family preparedness plan including a communications plan. This will enable you to communicate with all family members during an emergency.
What will schools do in the event of an emergency?
What we do in an emergency depends on the situation and the specifics of the incident. Depending on the severity of the threat or emergency, additional measures may be taken, including sheltering-in-place, evacuating students from the building, or closing the school early.
School emergency plans vary at each school and are initiated depending on the events unfolding at the time of the incident. While every school has pre-established plans of action, evacuation sites, and family reunification plans, these plans must remain flexible as conditions change.
Parents will be informed as soon as we have done everything we can to ensure the safety of students and when it becomes possible to provide accurate and helpful information.
What are some measures schools use in the event of an emergency?
Each school has an emergency operations plan involving a number of possible actions. The response varies, depending on the conditions and the situations, and is determined by a team trained to make such decisions. It is important for parents to understand that if a critical incident occurs, students will be dismissed to parents only when danger has passed.
Schools may use the following protective actions:
Evacuation: Used to move students and staff out of the building.
During an evacuation, students and staff leave and move to a nearby location and return to the school building right after the cause of evacuation is resolved. Schools practice evacuations regularly during fire drills.
Relocation: Used to move students and staff to a pre-designated alternate site following evacuation when it is determined that returning to the school building will not take place within a reasonable period of time.
Depending on the time of day and the circumstances, students may be released early or school activities may be changed or put on hold until they are able to return to the school building. Plans should also be in place for students and staff with limited mobility who may need assistance moving to the relocation site.
Shelter-in-place: Used during severe weather or other environmental threats
This is a precaution aimed to keep people safe while remaining indoors. In schools, shelter-in-place involves having all students, staff, and visitors take shelter in pre-selected areas.
Lockdown: Used when there is a perceived danger inside the building.
A lockdown includes securing each occupied room by locking the door(s) and directing people to move away from windows and doors. Hallways are cleared of students and school staff. Typically, local law enforcement arrives to secure the site and arrange for evacuation or return to usual building activities. Students are kept in their classrooms or other secured areas in the school until the lockdown has ended.
What should parents do in the event of an emergency?
The most helpful parental responses to a school emergency are to remain calm and wait for accurate information to be sent to the number listed on your child’s emergency contact. It is important for you to understand that, during such an event, individual schools and emergency responders have made preparations to deal with these incidents.
Please do not call the school. It is essential to keep phone lines open so school officials can make outgoing emergency calls. If students are ill or injured, the parents of those students will be notified first.
Remain close to the phone listed as your emergency contact number. Obtain current information about the incident from the division’s website.
Please do not come to the school - Doing so will hinder our emergency response. Wait until families have received communication in order to coordinate pickup procedures.
Understand that emergency pickup procedures are different from routine pickup procedures. In the event you are notified to pick up your child at school or at the designated family reunification site, bring a photo identification card. If you must send someone else to pick up your child, be sure it is someone who is listed on school records as an authorized individual and they are in possession of a photo ID. Your child will not be released to anyone who is unauthorized or who cannot provide appropriate identification. If you are asked to pick up your child, you will be asked to follow the checkout procedure established for emergencies.
How will parents be notified if an incident occurs at school?
Our first priority is to ensure all students are safe, accounted for, and under adult supervision. As soon as it is possible to do so, the superintendent will communicate information to parents and the community. MCPS has a variety of media available to parents which will be updated, as needed, with the most complete and accurate information available.
How has the division planned to support children and families after an emergency?
School officials understand that a traumatic event in a school or in the community can have an emotional impact on staff and students. MCPS has school counselors and other licensed mental health professionals who will respond to the school during and after a critical incident to provide assistance. If there is a chance a critical incident makes an emotional impact upon staff or students, the MCPS will help those affected cope with the aftermath of the incident.