Parent Emergency Information

The following parent emergency information describes our school system's safety and support responses. If parents have particular concerns, they should contact the school principal.

The Riverside County Office of Education is proactive in the area of emergency preparedness, and works closely with local emergency response agencies including the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, local law enforcement, County Public Health, and the County Emergency Management Department in the development of our emergency response plans.

Riverside County Office of Education uses the Immediate Response Protocol (IRP). The IRP is based on best practice responses to emergency situations. The IRP has four actions:

Lockout
Lockdown
Evacuate
Shelter-In-Place

Actions Defined

Lockout. This action is taken when a threat is not on site and does not directly involve the school or students. The school is placed in lockout based on activities in the surrounding area, not in school or on school grounds. RCOE has two levels of lockouts.

Lockout Level 1. Stops people from entering or leaving campus. All external gates and doors are locked while learning continues inside.
Lockout Level 2. In addition to the actions in Lockout Level 1, staff and students are to stay in the classrooms with all doors locked while learning continues inside. Unsupervised movement on campus is prohibited unless coordinated with the school administration office.

Examples: A scenario triggered from law enforcement such as a nearby arrest or search warrant being conducted, suspicious activity off campus, or a potential threat to school while being investigated.

Lockdown. The school is put on lockdown when perceived danger is on or very near the campus. During a lockdown, parents are strongly encouraged not to come to the school due to the heightened risk, and should only attempt to arrive at the school after a lockdown has been lifted. During a lockdown, it is important that emergency vehicles are able to reach the school quickly and easily. Parents who attempt to come to the school may obstruct emergency vehicle access and even endanger themselves or their children.

Examples: Threat inside the school, or emergency or dangerous situation very near the school.

Evacuate. Due to an unsafe situation in or near the school buildings, students and staff are moved to a safe location on or off campus. For many parents, your first instinct will be to come to the school to check on your child or take them home.

Examples: Gas leak in the school or unsafe situation near school affecting release times.

Shelter-In-Place. Students and staff are instructed to take safe shelter indoors due to a situation in or near the school until given an "all clear" or told to evacuate. To ensure the safety of our students during the shelter-in-place period, we will not be opening school doors to anyone.

Examples: Hazmat danger, inclement weather, or other natural events.

At the beginning of the school year, you will receive a lot of forms to fill out, including the Emergency Card. Please fill it out every year and return to the school office.

In the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake while your child is at school, you may find it difficult to contact your school as phone service may be interrupted or staff may be tending to students' needs. School staff will stay with your child until you, or an adult you previously authorized on the Emergency Card, can pick up your child.

Students may be moved to another location to provide better or more direct care. This decision will be made by RCOE administration and emergency response personnel based on current conditions, including the building's safety and duration of time that students may need to remain in the care of school staff. If a relocation is necessary, schools will post signage at the site letting you know where your child is being cared for. This information will also be posted on the RCOE website and may be shared with the media.