03/03/2026
SAFE PREP
Weather events reward preparation. Procedures must be clear, practiced, and tied to real shelter locations.
When was the last time your building’s shelter areas were evaluated?
We often find that “storm shelters” have become storage areas, sometimes even hazardous chemicals. More often, current security measures preclude entering the area previously designated as a shelter.
What do most schools do? - Use the hallway. -
That may be the best solution; however it may not. We often find more appropriate shelter areas. The important thing here is to have expertise in making that determination. We also look for areas to provide the best protection from totality of external dangers. The most common of these is the tornado, but can include other hazards, such as a chemical spill.
Once these areas are chosen, they should be signed. These do not have to be expensive, they simply need to be a visual reminder of where to go. People respond more efficiently when they have to think less – signage does this (much like marking “safer corners”).
Next, how do you drill? Have you gotten into a poor practice, a “response rut”, moving from the same room to the same shelter every time? If there is danger in the path, what would you do? We need to teach and practice moving to safety, not following an arrow.
Many schools have also gotten into the “stopwatch” habit: running drills by a stopwatch and judging success by how quickly it’s over. Certainly, returning to education is important. However, if we don’t learn anything from drill time, we have wasted the time. It is more important to do it right than to do it fast; it is more important still to learn something in the process.
Finally, all of the practices and documents should be in line. Our documents should include the language we use and show the shelter areas chosen. Those shelter areas should be signed so that live locations and maps align and simplify movement. With all of this documented, you have a good plan to share with first responders (in case they are needed) and you can show you have done your part!
This week’s move (3 quick actions):
• Verify shelter locations and occupancy limits – ADD SIGNAGE.
• TRAIN PROPERLY – don’t get in a “response rut”; move to SAFETY; do it right, not fast.
• Update your procedure language to be action-based and align it with the building map.
• Proof to capture: shelter map + updated procedure with approval date + practice/drill notes.
