INCLEMENT WEATHER
At certain times during extremely inclement weather, it is necessary to suspend the operation of schools in Edgecombe County, or if they are already closed to postpone the opening. This is usually done only at times when accumulations of snow or ice are on the roads which are traveled by school buses or due to other emergency conditions.
Prior to making a decision to close schools, weather officials are consulted, and school transportation and highway officials check the roads to determine safety for school buses.
If a decision is then made to close the schools, a Connect Ed message will be sent out by telephone and the following TV and Radio Stations are notified as soon as possible:
Radio: TV:
WCPS – TARBORO WNCT - GREENVILLE
WCEC - ROCKY MOUNT WITN - WASHINGTON
WEED - ROCKY MOUNT WRAL- RALEIGH
WGTM – WILSON WTVD- RALEIGH/DURHAM
WRMT - ROCKY MOUNT
WRSV - ROCKY MOUNT
If school is to remain closed on another school day, the same stations will be notified prior to 7:00 a.m. If no announcement is made, you may reasonably assume that schools are operating as usual. An exception, of course, would be a loss of telephone or electrical communication that could prohibit our contacting the stations.
If weather conditions warrant a delayed opening, school begins at 9:40 a.m. or 10:40 a.m. and dismiss at the usual time. In the event we are opening on a delayed schedule, it is very important that all buildings be open and that adequate supervision be provided for students who must arrive early due to family circumstances.
Bus drivers will adjust their departure time to coincide with the delayed opening for schools.
Whenever school is dismissed during the day, the faculty and support personnel will be excused at the regular hours unless special notification is received from the Superintendent's office. Every effort will be made to ensure the safety of all personnel.
Per the policy, if the school is closed, all school activities are automatically canceled.
Please do not call the central office or schools since unnecessary phone calls serve only to tie up telephone lines and slow down the process of getting news to proper authorities who can then notify the public.
Your assistance in following this procedure will be greatly appreciated.
Tornado Warning (A tornado has been detected)
SPECIAL NOTE
NEHS Tornado Plan
**Staff and students in the cafeteria:
Tornado Watch (Conditions create possibility of a tornado)
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DRILLS
Emergency Drills:
Fire drills are conducted monthly during the school year. Teachers should close classroom windows and doors, take roll books and grade books with them, and follow the evacuation routes posted in classrooms.
Tornado drills are conducted once per year minimally. An announcement will signal this drill. Teachers will follow the plan posted in classrooms.
Safety Drill Schedule
Fire (Evacuation Drills): Monthly
Lockdown Drills 1st Semester: TBD
Tornado Drills: TBD
Lockdown Drills 2nd Semester: TBD
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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Building Fire
The person discovering the fire will notify the principal s office immediately.
Active Shooter
Preparedness:
Principal/Designee will:
1. Assess situation and call (9) 9-1-1 and SRO (if on site) for immediate assistance.Notify the Superintendent.
2. Teacher will initiate the red card system in the classroom only if an intruder/danger/injuries are in the room.
Code Red. When a code red is announced, all rooms that are occupied will be locked to prevent a situation that may harm students and/or staff. Blinds should be pulled down and opened, and students should lie on the floor along the walls away from doors and windows. A code red will remain in effect until the administrator in charge makes notification of its cancellation.
Teachers will place a red placard under their door only to notify personnel patrolling the hallways if an intruder/danger/injuries are in the room.
Hide
Hide is essentially an extreme version of a routine lockdown procedure and the recommended action to take in a no-warning incident, versus a lockdown that is announced over an intercom. If evacuating is not possible, then you and your students should find a place to hide where the Active Shooter is less likely to find you. You may be at the school or sports field, or you may be on a field trip. Your hiding places should:
Run
Typically, students and staff should only deviate from the practiced lockdown procedure when instructed by law enforcement officers or other first responders that it is safe to do so. However, in an extreme case when there is no other option and the threat is imminent and unavoidable, the situation may dictate that you run. If it is safe to do so, you should seek to evacuate the premises, telling your students which route to take, where they should go, and moving them well away from the school to a safe location. You should be sure to:
Fight
As the very last resort, and only when your life or the lives of those around you are in imminent danger, you may decide to attempt to disrupt or incapacitate the Active Shooter by attacking or distracting them. Some options may include:
Weapon on Campus
A weapon is defined as any firearm, BB gun, stun gun, pellet gun, mace/pepper spray or gas, or other harmful chemical, air rifle, air pistol, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, firecracker/firework, club, slingshot, leaded cane, switchblade knife, any pocket knife (open or closed), blackjack, metallic knuckles, razors, razor blades (except cartridge razors used solely for personal shaving), and any sharp-pointed or edged instrument or object that can reasonably be considered a weapon by its appearance or use except instructional supplies, unaltered nail files and clips and tools used solely for preparation of food, instruction, and maintenance (G.S. 14-269.2). Teachers should report weapons or suspicion of weapons on campus to the principal or designee immediately.
Emergency Evacuation/Bomb Threats
At certain times during extremely inclement weather, it is necessary to suspend the operation of schools in Edgecombe County, or if they are already closed to postpone the opening. This is usually done only at times when accumulations of snow or ice are on the roads which are traveled by school buses or due to other emergency conditions.
Prior to making a decision to close schools, weather officials are consulted, and school transportation and highway officials check the roads to determine safety for school buses.
If a decision is then made to close the schools, a Connect Ed message will be sent out by telephone and the following TV and Radio Stations are notified as soon as possible:
Radio: TV:
WCPS – TARBORO WNCT - GREENVILLE
WCEC - ROCKY MOUNT WITN - WASHINGTON
WEED - ROCKY MOUNT WRAL- RALEIGH
WGTM – WILSON WTVD- RALEIGH/DURHAM
WRMT - ROCKY MOUNT
WRSV - ROCKY MOUNT
If school is to remain closed on another school day, the same stations will be notified prior to 7:00 a.m. If no announcement is made, you may reasonably assume that schools are operating as usual. An exception, of course, would be a loss of telephone or electrical communication that could prohibit our contacting the stations.
If weather conditions warrant a delayed opening, school begins at 9:40 a.m. or 10:40 a.m. and dismiss at the usual time. In the event we are opening on a delayed schedule, it is very important that all buildings be open and that adequate supervision be provided for students who must arrive early due to family circumstances.
Bus drivers will adjust their departure time to coincide with the delayed opening for schools.
Whenever school is dismissed during the day, the faculty and support personnel will be excused at the regular hours unless special notification is received from the Superintendent's office. Every effort will be made to ensure the safety of all personnel.
Per the policy, if the school is closed, all school activities are automatically canceled.
Please do not call the central office or schools since unnecessary phone calls serve only to tie up telephone lines and slow down the process of getting news to proper authorities who can then notify the public.
Your assistance in following this procedure will be greatly appreciated.
Tornado Warning (A tornado has been detected)
- The Superintendent/Designee or the appropriate county official will notify all principals.
- Principal/Designee will notify staff immediately.
- Principal/Designee will send runners to notify teachers with classes outside the building to move to designated safe areas.
- All students and staff will immediately proceed to the designated areas (attach your school s tornado drill plan), assume a crouched kneeling position, and cover the back of the head/neck with hands or coats to protect eyes and heads once in the hallway. They will face away from the area with greatest potential for injury from flying glass.
- All teachers will take roll and notify principal if someone is missing.
- Students and staff will not return to their classrooms until the principal or designee declares it safe to do so.
- The custodial staff will turn off all utilities (electricity, water and fuel). Insert specific assignments for custodians if needed.
SPECIAL NOTE
- If there is no prior notice, but a tornado is sighted approaching your school
- If time permits, students and staff will proceed to the interior hallway or interior room on the lowest floor that does not have an outside wall. (Attach the school s Tornado Drill Plan/Map)
- If time does not permit, students and staff will get into the safest area of the classroom (the inside wall farthest away from doors and windows).
- Students and staff will avoid windows, auditoriums, gymnasiums, or other structures with wide, free-span roofs.
NEHS Tornado Plan
- The signal for the tornado drill will be continuous chimes.
- All classes must vacate the second floor in the "C" Building.
- The occupants of rooms C-204, C-205, C-206, C-207 and C-208 should proceed downstairs using the stairway near C-206.
- The occupants of rooms C-200, C-201, C-202, and C-203 should proceed downstairs using the stairway near the elevator.
- All occupants must vacate all wide areas such as the cafeteria, the student commons, the theater, the media center, the administrative complex, the gymnasium and the shops.
- It is important that classes assembled in the halls should be kept in a straight line to allow for walking through.
- Important..................ANY TIME YOU ARE NEAR AN EXTERIOR WALL, STAY AT LEAST TEN (10) FEET AWAY.
- All kitchen employees should take shelter in the supply room.
- Once you are in an assigned area, assume a curled position to protect your head and eyes.
- Students and staff will not return to their classrooms until the principal or his designee declares it is safe to do so.
**Staff and students in the cafeteria:
- If time permits, staff and students will report to the bottom floor of C-building
- Emergency--storage, kitchen and hallway/bathrooms between cafeteria and Media Center.
Tornado Watch (Conditions create possibility of a tornado)
- Teachers will continue regular classroom activities until instructed otherwise.
- Students will not be informed of the possible danger.
- Principal/Designee will appoint staff members to serve as lookouts on all four sides of the building.
- Principal/Designee will notify all bus drivers of the WATCH prior to departure or by cellular phone.
- School will be dismissed at the normal time in the regular manner, and bus drivers will
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DRILLS
Emergency Drills:
Fire drills are conducted monthly during the school year. Teachers should close classroom windows and doors, take roll books and grade books with them, and follow the evacuation routes posted in classrooms.
Tornado drills are conducted once per year minimally. An announcement will signal this drill. Teachers will follow the plan posted in classrooms.
Safety Drill Schedule
Fire (Evacuation Drills): Monthly
Lockdown Drills 1st Semester: TBD
Tornado Drills: TBD
Lockdown Drills 2nd Semester: TBD
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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Building Fire
The person discovering the fire will notify the principal s office immediately.
- The Principal/Designee will sound the fire alarm immediately.
- All students and staff will evacuate the building using the fire drill evacuation plan. Teacher will take roll and notify principal if someone is missing.
- Teachers will close all windows and doors in classrooms and turn off the lights when leaving the room. Teacher will leave the room last, having a designated student lead.
- TEACHER/Designee will immediately notify the principal if someone is missing. The principal will orchestrate search.
- Principal/Designee will keep students and staff away from building until area is declared safe.
- Principal/Designee will contact fire/emergency services at (9) 9-1-1 and tell operator where point of contact will be located to meet responding fire officials.
- Principal/Designee will notify the Superintendent, the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and the Public Information Officer.
Active Shooter
Preparedness:
- Increase active shooter risk awareness through education.
- Encourage students and staff to be aware of their environment and any possible dangers.
- Encourage students and staff to take note of the two nearest exits in any school building they visit.
- Encourage students and staff to attempt to take down an active shooter only as a last resort.
Principal/Designee will:
1. Assess situation and call (9) 9-1-1 and SRO (if on site) for immediate assistance.Notify the Superintendent.
- Initiate the Code Red Lockdown Procedure.
- Advise over intercom to keep all students in the classrooms and away from windows.
- Hold change of class bell.
- Refer to and use Critical Incident Response Kit (black box) and procedures.
2. Teacher will initiate the red card system in the classroom only if an intruder/danger/injuries are in the room.
Code Red. When a code red is announced, all rooms that are occupied will be locked to prevent a situation that may harm students and/or staff. Blinds should be pulled down and opened, and students should lie on the floor along the walls away from doors and windows. A code red will remain in effect until the administrator in charge makes notification of its cancellation.
Teachers will place a red placard under their door only to notify personnel patrolling the hallways if an intruder/danger/injuries are in the room.
Hide
Hide is essentially an extreme version of a routine lockdown procedure and the recommended action to take in a no-warning incident, versus a lockdown that is announced over an intercom. If evacuating is not possible, then you and your students should find a place to hide where the Active Shooter is less likely to find you. You may be at the school or sports field, or you may be on a field trip. Your hiding places should:
- Be out of the Active Shooter's view.
- Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction.
- Be away from doors and windows as bullets can pass through these easily.
- Not trap you, or restrict your options for escape if that is possible.
- To prevent an Active Shooter from entering your hiding place, you should:
- Lock the door.
- Blockade the door with heavy furniture.
- If the Active Shooter is nearby:
- Lock the door.
- Silence your cell phone or pager.
- Turn off any source of noise, such as radios and televisions.
- Hide behind large items such as cabinets and desks.
- Remain quiet and ask those around you to also remain quiet.
- If evacuation and hiding are not possible, then:
- Remain calm.
- Dial 911 if possible in order to alert police to the Active Shooter s location. If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the dispatcher to listen to what is happening.
Run
Typically, students and staff should only deviate from the practiced lockdown procedure when instructed by law enforcement officers or other first responders that it is safe to do so. However, in an extreme case when there is no other option and the threat is imminent and unavoidable, the situation may dictate that you run. If it is safe to do so, you should seek to evacuate the premises, telling your students which route to take, where they should go, and moving them well away from the school to a safe location. You should be sure to:
- Have an escape route and plan in your mind before you start to move.
- Ensure you account for all of the students, having a teacher s aide lead the students out, while you check the last student out of the room or area, if possible.
- Leave your belongings behind, telling students to do the same.
- Prevent individuals from entering an area where an Active Shooter may present a threat.
- You should warn people to stay away without endangering yourself or your students.
- Keep your hands visible if police officers are outside.
- Follow the instructions of any police officer.
- Make no attempt to move wounded people.
- Call 911 when you are safe.
- Listen for special instructions over the intercom.
Fight
As the very last resort, and only when your life or the lives of those around you are in imminent danger, you may decide to attempt to disrupt or incapacitate the Active Shooter by attacking or distracting them. Some options may include:
- Throwing items and improvising weapons such as a chair, a phone, laptop, tablet, stapler, file, book or another easily accessible object.
- Briefing the students to escape while you are attacking or distracting the Active Shooter.
Weapon on Campus
A weapon is defined as any firearm, BB gun, stun gun, pellet gun, mace/pepper spray or gas, or other harmful chemical, air rifle, air pistol, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, firecracker/firework, club, slingshot, leaded cane, switchblade knife, any pocket knife (open or closed), blackjack, metallic knuckles, razors, razor blades (except cartridge razors used solely for personal shaving), and any sharp-pointed or edged instrument or object that can reasonably be considered a weapon by its appearance or use except instructional supplies, unaltered nail files and clips and tools used solely for preparation of food, instruction, and maintenance (G.S. 14-269.2). Teachers should report weapons or suspicion of weapons on campus to the principal or designee immediately.
Emergency Evacuation/Bomb Threats
- A person will be appointed to be responsible for plans and training for the faculty and staff.
- DO NOT USE RADIOS. We will announce “At this time, we are under our code blue emergency evacuation plan. Search Team members please report to the office. Students and staff will exit the building like we do for a fire drill and then report to the stadium. No one is to leave the campus. No one is to use a cell phone. A cell phone can possibly cause an explosive device to go off if one is on campus”.
- Teachers are to do a quick search of your classroom/work station before exiting. You should look for anything out of the ordinary (box, package, envelope, book bag, etc.)
- Teachers are to check roll in the stadium. Students and staff will remain in the stadium until further notice.
- If weather is bad, students will be informed that they may sit in private vehicles if they drive or if they ride with another student. Cell phones are not to be used. No one may leave campus. All other students may sit on buses; if necessary we can bring in buses from another school). Counselors and non-teaching staff will monitor students in Student Parking Lot. All other teachers will be in bus area.
- Search Team: Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Department
- Buses to Block School Entrances - Cafeteria workers and teacher assistants who have a bus license will use buses to block the entrances to the school.