What is an Evacuation?

An fire evacuation occurs there is a fire or potential fire emergency, the fire alarm is activated, or you are notified by emergency personnel to evacuate the building. A directed evacuation may occur for a bomb threat, a suspicious package, or an inside hazardous material release. Students and staff are directed away from the known danger area. 

What actions do we take during an Evacuation?

• All staff and students evacuate building silently.

• All staff and students assemble in the designated evacuation area.

• Staff will take attendance of all students present in their designated evacuation area.

• All staff and students await direction from an administrator or security.

The safety of our MCPS community is critical, and being able to communicate with students, staff, and families during severe weather or other emergencies is of the utmost importance. Use this link to find all the ways you can connect with MCPS to receive emergency operational information from the school system. The current operating status options for the school district appear on the MCPS website and on individual school websites. 

In the event of a change in operational status, this link will provide more information about the MCPS Operating Status options. 

What is a Parent-Child Reunification?

A Parent-Child Reunification (PCR) process ensures students are safely reunited with their parents or guardians after an emergency or crisis at a designated location, either on or off campus, indoors or outdoors. The PCR plan will eb shared with students, staff, and guardians, at the start of each school year and reviewed regularly throughout the year.

What actions do we take during a Parent-Child Reunification?

• All students will be in predetermined location.

  • • This could either be their regularly scheduled classroom or an alternate space (such as the gym or cafeteria) depending on the needs of the reunification.

• Parents will enter through the cafeteria exterior doors, where there will be a reunification team that will ask for the students name and parent ID.

• Once the parent identity has been verified, the reunification team will radio for the student to be brought into the cafeteria where they will be reunified with the parents.

  • • Depending on the needs of the reunification, the student can either be escorted to the cafeteria by a staff member OR be given a pass to transitions to the cafeteria on their own.

What is a Secure?

A Secure is an emergency response where there is danger in the school community or near school property. The purpose of a Secure is to provide heightened awareness by staff of what is occurring on or in the area around the school.

What actions do we take during a Secure?

• All exterior doors are locked and monitored by staff.

• Classroom instruction continues.

• Take attendance and account for any discrepancies.

• Announcements will be made by administration to provide safety information as needed.

• If the danger or threat to the school becomes imminent, the Secure ensures that the school is well prepared to move quickly to a Lockdown.

What is a Hold?

A Hold is an emergency response where there is a non-threatening concerning within the school building. The purpose of a Hold is to restrict movement in the school by keeping all students and staff in their current location. The most frequent use of a Hold is to address a medical situation that may be happening in the building.

What actions do we take during a Hold?

• In certain situations, hallway passes or movement in hallways is limited.

• In certain situations, students will not transition to classes, remaining in their current classroom until the Hold is lifted.

• Announcements will be made by administration to provide safety information as needed.

• If the emergency to the school becomes threatening or dangerous, the Hold ensures that the school is well prepared to move quickly to a Lockdown.

How and when will I receive communication during a Lockdown?

• You will receive information as soon as possible after the initiation of a lockdown.

• Additionally, our goal is to communicate within 20 minutes, with updates as frequently as possible.

• Updates will be provided in collaboration with our law enforcement partners. We recognize that sharing what we do know as we verify information alleviates anxiety.

• This initial information will be shared utilizing the ConnectEd system via phone call, text message, and email.

How and when will I receive communication after a Lockdown?

• You will receive a summative communication providing detailed information regarding the emergency and resources available to students/parents.

• We recognize the importance of two-way communication. Please know that if you or your child have serious concerns in response to an emergency or crisis, contact your child’s school directly for information and guidance.

What types of support will be available to my child following emergency situations that potentially impact their well-being?

• At the conclusion of an emergency situation, specialists in mental health, specifically recognizing and addressing trauma will partner with the school administration to deploy the appropriate services.

• Students will have full access to their counselor to support their social emotional well-being.

• We will continue to provide communication to the community as we verify information.

• Teachers will demonstrate flexibility with academic assignments such as tests/quizzes.

For more details on all emergency procedures, such as weather safety shelter, evacuation, and parent-child reunification please click the appropriate language below for the MCPS brochures.

Emergency Preparedness Brochures

•  English 

•   中文 

•   Français 

•   Español 

•   Việt Nam

Please visit the MCPS Emergency Preparedness website for more information