Safety Procedures for Tornado Warnings
Safety Procedures During Siren Activation
The following provides our general guidelines when we have storms predicted or evident in our county. These safety procedures would be in place when/if a tornado warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for our area. Questions? Please contact your principal.
Communication Procedures Parents will be notified via the automatic notification system of any changes in transportation, as well as school delays, associated with shelter-in-place when sirens are activated. Emails, texts and app notifications will include the Triangle & Exclamation Point symbol. Social media featuring the alert graphic will be used for information impacting the entire district.
Did you know: Sirens sound for 3 minutes with each NEW warning? When a siren alert ends, that is NOT the same as an ‘all clear.’ District officials work closely with Emergency Management Services and will issue the all clear according to their direction. sccmo.org/EmergencyManagement
Arrival - 6:30 - 9:30 a.m.
What we will do
In the event a tornado warning is issued prior to the start of the school day, school buses will be held at the bus garage. The start of the school day will be delayed until the tornado warning is lifted.
In the event sirens are activated while school buses are on their routes, buses will continue picking up students. Drivers can notify dispatch and seek the closest shelter. Drivers and students will remain at the location until the warning is lifted.
What families should do
It is important to have a family plan ready in the event the sirens are activated before school. Families need to keep students at home or in a safe location until the warning is lifted. We want to ensure students are not waiting at the bus stops during this critical time.
At School - 7:20 a.m. - 4 p.m.
When sirens are activated, an alarm/alert is broadcast at school. Teachers and students move to designated shelter areas. Then, the members of the school community wait until the warning has been lifted before resuming their normal school day. This action might delay the starting and the ending of the school day. As you know, our schools conduct drills with students twice a year to ensure they are aware of the procedures to follow. We want our students to have practiced these safety requirements in case of a weather-related emergency.
Did you know: Sirens are not designed to be heard indoors? Have other methods to receive updates when you are inside.
Dismissal -2:20 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
What we will do
Students will not be dismissed from school while the area is under a weather warning. Even though it might be the end of the school day, students will be in a shelter-in-place protocol and buses will not be allowed to transport students until the warning is lifted.
In the event a warning is issued while school buses are already on their routes, drivers will remain until students are in their homes. Drivers can notify dispatch and seek the closest shelter. Drivers and students will remain at the location until the warning is lifted.
What families should do
We urge parents to refrain from coming to school to pick up their child during a weather warning as our staff will be in a shelter-in-place protocol where they can supervise students. If parents arrive at school during a warning, they will be asked to shelter in place with us until the warning is lifted.
