Emergency Drills

  • Schools are required to have at least one drill per month, including during summer sessions with students. Drills must practice three basic functional threat responses:

    • Shelter-in-place - To limit the exposure of students and staff to hazardous materials, such as chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants, released into the environment by isolating the inside environment from the outside;
    • Lockdown - To isolate students and staff from threats of violence, such as suspicious trespassers or armed intruders, that may occur in a school or in the vicinity of a school; and
    • Evacuation - To move students and staff away from threats, such as fires, oil train spills, or tsunamis.

    Drop, Cover and Hold earthquake drills are often incorporated into the monthly drills. Each year during October, our schools participate in the annual Great Washington ShakeOut provides an excellent opportunity to prepare, survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes wherever you live, work or travel.

    Additional information about drills is located on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) website.